DEER DISTRACTED, DRIVE DEFENSIVELY

JEFFERSON CITY -- Most of the time, white-tailed deer are extremely cautious. Just ask the thousands of deer hunters who go home empty-handed every year. So, why do creatures that elude stealthy, camouflaged hunters wander out in front of pickup trucks and 18-wheelers? To answer that question, you have to take into account hormones and headlights.

Accident statistics from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) show that more than a quarter of all deer-vehicle accidents take place in one month -- November. It isn't mere coincidence that November also is the peak of the deer "rut," or mating season, in Missouri. Nearly two-thirds of Missouri's deer- vehicle accidents occur between the onset of deer mating behavior in October and its end in January.

"Bucks become much more active at this time of year," said Jeff Beringer, MDC wildlife biologist. "That's because they are searching for and chasing does as part of their breeding ritual."

The other important contributing factor in deer-vehicle accidents is light. Deer are most active when light is low. They are least active during the day.

The vast majority of deer-vehicle accidents occur between dusk and dawn, simply because that's when deer are most active. To make things worse, deer are frightened and confused by blinding automobile headlights. It shouldn't surprise anyone when a buck already preoccupied with the search for females runs the wrong, right into the path of a speeding car.

Beringer said no one has found an effective way of stopping deer from running in front of vehicles. Some companies sell sound- producing devices that are mounted on cars to warn away deer. But Beringer said scientific studies do not support manufacturers' claims of reduced accident frequency.

Beringer and the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department (MHTD) are preparing to study another strategy for preventing deer-vehicle maps. It involves placing a series of reflectors along stretches of highway where deer-vehicle accidents are especially frequent. The reflectors catch light from vehicle headlights and beam it away from the road at angles calculated to stop approaching deer before they enter the automotive danger zone.

MDC is serving as a consultant in MHTD's two- to three-year study. MHTD will fund the study and will collect data. MDC designed the study and will analyze the data. Field testing will take place mostly around urban areas, where heavy traffic and large deer populations combine to produce large numbers of deer- vehicle accidents.

Beringer also mentioned the following dos and don'ts to keep in mind if you spot deer while driving:

Do be on the lookout for deer when driving, especially from October through January and especially from dusk to dawn. Ask passengers to keep an eye out for deer and alert the driver immediately.

Don't swerve so drastically in trying to miss a deer that you wind up in a ditch. Better to hit a deer than risk serious injury yourself. For the same reason, don't slam on your brakes if another car is close behind you.

Do slow down as quickly and safely as possible when you see a deer, even if it is standing still. Deer are astonishingly quick and can bolt unexpectedly. Flash your lights and honk your horn to discourage the deer from crossing the roadway. This also will alert nearby cars to danger.

Don't drop your guard after a close call. Deer usually travel in family groups. A pair of fawns may bound across the road right behind a doe.

Do report deer-vehicle accidents. If your vehicle is damaged, you will need an official accident report for insurance claims. The information also helps MDC and Highway Department officials identify trouble spots. Call your county conservation agent or the nearest law enforcement agency to report accidents even if your vehicle isn't damaged.