Drivers beware: Deer vs. car collisions on the rise, and this is prime season
Drivers in Rhode Island are being warned about the dangers of striking deer, as those collisions have increased in each of the last three years.
The chance of hitting a deer is even greater this time of year, especially around dawn and dusk, because it's their mating season, when deer tend to move more, according to the state Department of Environmental Management.
Diana Gugliotta, director of public affairs for AAA Northeast, said, “Drivers should always be on the lookout for hazards on the road, but the danger of deer is particularly acute in the fall. Deer present dangers to themselves, vehicles and vehicle occupants, so it behooves everybody to be vigilant. Crashes with deer can be very costly and even deadly."
Last year, 1,285 deer were struck on Rhode Island roads, up from 1,163 in 2020 and 838 in 2019.
Nationally, about 6% of collisions with deer result in fatalities of the drivers or occupants, Gugliotta said, noting that the data is not tracked in Rhode Island.
Repair costs vary but average about $6,000, according to Gugliotta. Supply-chain shortages have pushed up costs and increased waiting times, she said.
Each city and town in Rhode Island had at least one deer crash, AAA noted, based on information supplied by the DEM. North Kingstown had the most with 115.
Why this time of year is peak for deer crashes and why hunting helps
The deer breeding season, known as "the rut" begins in late October and continues through November until early December, with November typically the peak period for collisions, according to the DEM.
Hunting helps control the deer population, according to the DEM.
"White-tailed deer are a common sight in Rhode Island, with large populations all over the state, including many of the Bay Islands," the DEM said. "Hunting has proven to be the most cost-effective, efficient, and successful method of controlling deer populations, which in turn ensures that the population remains in balance with ecological and social factors."
Previous reporting: These are the 10 states where car crashes involving wildlife are most common
Last season, from Sept. 11, 2021 to Feb. 28, 2022, hunters reported harvesting 2,164 deer across Rhode Island, an 8% decrease from the 2,348 reported taken in the previous season, according to the DEM.
That was the first decrease after the harvest increased four seasons from 2017 to 2020, the DEM said in a summary report on deer and deer hunting.
"It’s likely that harvest decreased slightly as the general public finds themselves back to 'normal' in the wake of the (COVID-19) pandemic, with few restrictions on travel and indoor/outdoor activities, thus resulting in less hunting pressure even with increased sales in deer permits," the report said.
It also noted, "In 2021, the number of reported deer auto strikes was equivalent to 59% of the total reported hunter harvest."
Rhode Island communities with the most deer crashes
Here's are the top 10 Rhode Island communities for deer collisions: North Kingstown 115, South Kingstown 99, Warwick 91, Tiverton 72, Coventry 66, Lincoln 64, East Greenwich 59, Scituate 45, Narragansett 44 and Richmond 42.
"Anyone who strikes a deer should exercise caution when approaching the deer, as it may only be stunned, and a person could become seriously injured by a wounded animal's attempt to escape," the DEM said.
State law requires anyone who hits a deer to report it to the DEM's 24-hour dispatch office at (401) 222-3070, as well as to local police and the driver's insurance company, according to the DEM.
The owner of the vehicle in the crash can keep the deer with a permit from the DEM and can request the permit when calling the DEM's dispatch office to report the crash.
Here are some tips from AAA and the DEM to avoid deer collisions:
Scan the shoulders of the road in front of you; deer may dash out from the shoulder or wooded areas adjacent to the road.
Follow the speed limit; keeping your speed down will give you more time to respond to unexpected wildlife movements.
Be careful rounding curves and climbing hills where visibility is limited.
One long blast on your horn may frighten animals away from your car if you see them early enough.
If you see one deer, look out for others. Deer rarely travel alone.
Use high beams along dark roads if there is no oncoming traffic.
If a collision is unavoidable, apply the brakes firmly and remain in your lane; swerving sharply can cause an even more serious crash.
(401) 277-7614
On Twitter: @jgregoryperry
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Deer strikes by cars rising in Rhode Island, here's how to avoid them
