Tips on avoiding deer collisions
I've been out amongst the corn and the deer more than ever this year and I've come to know more about deer than I even knew there was to know about deer. I've learned to recognize when and where deer are most likely to walk out onto roads and how to avoid hitting them. I wanted to share my tips in case I can help someone else, and possibly even save a life.
Please note that this advice comes from someone who lives in the Midwestern United States, so it may not be 100% applicable to people living in other environments. This also focuses on whitetail deer and may not be applicable to other cervids.
I will also be sure to make a follow-up post if I notice any particular behavioral patterns during the rut this year that I feel should be addressed. Remember that the fall rutting season is when deer are most active, so be especially cautious.
Tip #1: If a collision seems unavoidable, DON'T SWERVE
I get it, no one WANTS to risk totaling their car and hurting a deer all in one go. As much as we have an instinct to swerve, doing so can cause you to:
swerve into oncoming traffic
hit unexpected deer 2-5 that are following deer #1 (more on this later)
Many insurance companies will also NOT cover damages that are caused by swerving for a deer, but they WILL cover damages caused by hitting a deer. Sometimes hitting a deer is simply unavoidable.
TIP #2: There are ALWAYS deer!
Deer are theoretically crepuscular, which means that they are mostly active at dawn and dusk, but this isn't a rigid rule! On a similar note, they are most likely to spend their time near trees, but not always.
I have come across deer on the roads at the expected times of dawn and dusk, but I have also seen them on or near the roads at noon, 3 PM, 5 PM, etc. They can surprise you! I can't tell you how many times I've thought to myself "ah, there won't be any deer in this place/at this time" only to see several of them. Sometimes I've seen them in the middle of corn fields, in the middle of the day, fairly far away from trees.
An important thing to keep in mind is the fact that any vegetation that is about 4-5 ft in height can conceal deer shockingly well, especially if they're bedded down. Pay attention to the sides of the road if there is any tall foliage, ESPECIALLY at night. Corn is particularly great at hiding deer. Remember that deer have excellent camouflage. They can appear and disappear very, very suddenly. A deer will run into the woods and be out of sight within seconds.
Wherever you are, there are deer nearby. Wherever you are, whenever you're there, a deer can run onto the road.
In addition to the fact that there are always deer, there is almost always more than one deer. If you see one, more are nearby.
TIP #3: Be extra cautious at night and LOOK FOR EYESHINE!
While deer can be active at any time, they are much more likely to be out around nighttime. Again, their camouflage is astoundingly good, so sometimes the only way to notice them at night is by their eyeshine. Keep your brights on as much as you safely (and legally) can. Even if you can see the road itself well, using high beams will help you catch eyeshine from farther away, with a wider radius.
Avoid speeding at night as much as you can, especially if one or both sides of the road have tall vegetation. If you get ANY kind of funny feeling that you should slow down, trust your intuition.
TIP #4: What to do when you see deer near/on the road
If you do manage to spot a deer standing on the side of the road before they've crossed, what you do next depends on whether or not there is another car close behind you. If there is, the best thing to do is to keep driving and make NO changes in speed, lights, etc. You don't want to spook them onto the road!
If no one is close behind you and you see deer near the road or already crossing it ahead of you, slow down as much as possible and stop if you can do so safely. If they're crossing the road, give them space and let them cross on their own.
If the deer are standing there and staring at you without moving, flashing your brights a few times will usually spook them enough to make them run. They don't always run in the most sensible direction. If they're at the side of the road, they may very well run across it once they're spooked. Be aware of this and be sure to give them as much space as you can when you're trying to get them away from the road.
This is where it's important to remember that deer are rarely alone. If you flash your lights or honk at deer, don't drive immediately after the road is clear - there could very well be more deer out of sight who will come out onto the road. This is true when deer are crossing without encouragement as well. They often cross in a single file line, so be sure to wait a few seconds to make sure that ALL of them have crossed.
TIP #5: Build your deer karma!
This piece of advice takes more of a spiritual approach, so feel free to skip this if you don't believe in that sort of thing. All of the more practical tips have already been covered.
Whitetail deer are clearly not threatened by extinction whatsoever. They are overpopulated in most of the United States due to a complete lack of large predators. They are, however, often disrespected by humans. Their habitats are degrading and shrinking, and many of their populations are suffering from disease due to their overpopulation. I would say that most humans see them as lesser than most other animals. They're seen as little more than products.
I believe in, and have seen evidence of, something I call "deer karma." People who have a true awareness of deer, people who love and respect them deeply, run into far less trouble with deer collisions than folks who see deer as creatures that are far beneath them. You can build deer karma simply by respecting them as animals whose lives have inherent value. Remember that they have their own thoughts, feelings, and personalities just like any companion animal. If you hunt deer or eat them, do so with respect and acknowledge the life they gave for you. If you aren't a hunter, you can build respect for deer by expressing some condolence to roadkill deer. Just think of them as you pass, and try to express some sympathy for them.
One very basic thing that everyone can do is to research how to avoid harming wild deer inadvertently. Don't feed wild deer, don't pet wild deer, and don't set out salt or mineral licks if you live in a state where Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is present.
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