Insurance company study shows deer-vehicle collisions on the rise

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- As the fall season ushers in brightly-colored foliage and cooler temperatures, it also brings an increased risk to motorists, according to law enforcement officials, biologists and insurance carriers.

A recent report released by State Farm Insurance Co. claims the number of deer strikes nationwide is on the rise, and Missouri is ranked No. 16 in the country for the likelihood of a motorist hitting a deer in the next 12 months.

"It seems like the incidence of deer claims rises a little each year," said Poplar Bluff State Farm agent Denver Kennedy. "At 16th, we get more deer claims than two-thirds of the states, and that has to be a factor on rate quotes."

The average damage claim from a deer collision, Kennedy said, is more than $3,000.

Statistics on deer collisions vary by reporting agency, ranging from more than 3,000 to more than 31,000 deer accidents last year in Missouri.

October, November and December account for 49.1 percent of the annual number of deer/vehicle collisions in the Show-Me State, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol statistics.

"Late October through December is the breeding season for deer," said Lonnie Hansen, the Missouri Department of Conservation's top deer biologist.

Accident data backs up Hansen's belief that the breeding season results in high deer accident numbers.

"Even though bucks make up a small part of the deer population, they make up a very large percentage of the deer hit in the fall because they are moving over large areas in search of does," he said.

Other factors can influence the number of deer collisions along roadways, Hansen said, including acorn availability.

"Acorns are a huge factor," Hansen said. "I'd say our data will show a close tie between acorn production and the number of deer accidents."

In years with good acorn production, Hansen said, deer tend to stay in the woods and don't have to move far to find food. Conversely, in years with short acorn supplies, deer tend to gravitate to open areas, including lush green roadsides, to feed.

Drivers in urban areas are more likely to encounter deer. Highway Patrol data shows the top nine or 10 counties for deer collisions annually are urban areas with heavy traffic.

Hansen agreed. "Urban deer are our biggest problem," he said. "Those areas have protected deer and high traffic. We have no means of controlling them (hunting there generally is not allowed) and the deer's biggest mortality factor is by car accidents. It's not a good way to manage deer."

An ever increasing number of drivers on the road also may be a factor in deer collisions, Kennedy believes.

"I think there are more vehicles per household, and more cars means increased chances of encountering a deer," he said.

In 2009, there were 3,676 accidents involving deer in Missouri, according to the Highway Patrol, including five fatalities, though Hansen said the true number is likely much higher because of the way the patrol does its reporting and the fact many accidents go unreported.

"The Highway Patrol only reports accidents where the damage exceeds a certain dollar amount," Hansen said. "Our own database is twice as high as the patrol's."

State Farm's estimate of more than 31,000 collisions last year, Hansen said, probably is closer to the actual number of deer related accidents.

Still, Hansen said, Missouri's 16th ranking by State Farm is "very positive to be honest. We have the seventh highest deer harvest in the country, but are only 16th (in crash probability). That shows our efforts to manage deer numbers is aggressive, and we're managing to minimize problems," he said.

Other data shows the majority of deer-related accidents, 87.8 percent, occur on straight roads, says the highway patrol report. Wet roads account for 81.5 percent of the accidents, while 62.9 percent occur on level roads.

To curb the number of accidents, Hansen urges drivers to be extra cautious in the fall.

"Some accidents simply are unavoidable, but many are avoidable," he said. "The biggest thing a driver should do is slow down, know what's going on and scan ahead."

Kennedy agreed.

"My advice is to slow down, and if you do see a deer, try not to swerve to avoid the risk of losing control," he said.

Swerving, Kennedy said, greatly increases a driver's risk of hitting oncoming traffic, a culvert or roadside trees, resulting in more damage and injury than hitting the deer would have caused.

Kennedy offered other tips to avoid deer collisions:

* Watch for deer crossing signs, which are placed in areas known for deer activity.

* Be especially cautious during peak deer movement times of 6 to 9 p.m.

* Use high-beam headlights as much as possible for improved visibility.

* If you see one deer, others are probably nearby, so watch for them.