Risk of deer-related crashes rises

SIKESTON, Mo. — The population of deer in the local area has increased, which is good for hunters, but could be bad for drivers.

Missouri ranks 17th in the country for the most potential deer collisions. From 2013 to 2014, there was a 6 percent increase in deer-related car collisions, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The odds drivers will hit a deer in Missouri in the coming year are 1 in 117, above the national odds of 1 in 164.

Nationally, drivers are 3 percent more likely to collide with a deer, elk or moose during the coming year compared to last year.

“This year, (deer) seem to be moving a whole lot more than what we’ve seen in the past,” said Sgt. Clark Parrott, the highway patrol’s Troop E public information and education officer.

Parrott said deer were spotted in the backyards of residents’ homes in cities such as Cape Girardeau.

“Deer are becoming more comfortable in the local environment,” he said.

David Carnell, owner of Carnell’s Collision Repair in Sikeston, confirmed Parrott’s statement.

Deer-related car collisions, Carnell said, “is not just on back roads in the middle of the woods.”

Carnell said he’s done body work on cars that have hit deer near Wal-Mart, Sikeston Power Plant and Mini Farms subdivision in the city.

Carnell said the cost for damages he’s seen ranged from $2,000 to $13,000. The national average of cost per claim is nearly $4,000, according to a State Farm Insurance news release.

Typically the deer gets hit and “bounces down the side,” Carnell said. The highest amount of damage was from a man who hit a deer, then swerved into a guard rail, he added.

Parrott cautioned to avoid overcorrecting or driving into oncoming traffic; swerving is exactly what drivers should not do. Deer-related collisions killed two people and injured 374 in 2014, according to the highway patrol’s crash reports.

“Always anticipate a deer,” Parrott said. “Hitting a deer will jar you, and you want to have that seatbelt on.”

Adrian Armstrong of Sikeston had his new car for only two weeks before his unusual deer-related car accident when traveling in Crowder.

“I heard a big boom, like something had hit me while I was driving,” Armstrong said. “The deer literally ran into me.”

Armstrong said he didn’t see the deer coming until he saw its face and antlers on the right passenger side. The accident resulted in a broken side view mirror, a cracked headlight and several dents along the front fender and passenger doors to the back bumper, accumulating $5,500 worth of damages.

There are a few driving forces behind the influx of deer population alongside roads and around homes.

For the most part, the deer population is stable in Missouri, but seven counties have seen slight growth — over half of them in the southeast region. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Dunklin, Madison, Scott and Stoddard counties have seen the most increases in deer population.

Deforestation has been concurrent with the rise in deer population. According to the state’s Department of Conservation, Missouri had about 15.4 million acres of forestland in 2014. Today, the state has about 14 million acres.

Wildlife also is attracted to roadside vegetation, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

“There are a lot of different green vegetables and fruits deer will eat that grow wild on the roadways,” said Leother Branch, Missouri conservation agent.

According to Branch, the deer population is increasing.

“Our deer-hunting season has actually increased in the state of Missouri. We are getting more hunters now than in previous years,” he said. Missouri hunters harvested 274,447 deer for the 2015-2016 hunting season — 7 percent more than last year’s.

The months a driver is most likely to experience a collision — due mostly to deer mating season — are November, October and December, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol figures.

“That’s when you should be on your highest alert,” said Branch.

According to highway-patrol crash reports, nearly three of four vehicles collide with deer in clear weather conditions, and over half the collisions occur on straight roads with level inclines. Collisions on curved roads were only 11 percent of the total deer-related accidents in 2014.

Driving from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday yields the most likely chance of being involved in a deer-related accident. Those three hours make up nearly a third of all the collisions, according to the crash reports.

“Deer move more so at night than the day,” Branch said.

And it’s not unusual for deer to run in herds.

“If you see one cross the road, it’s not unheard-of to see one or two more cross,” Branch added.

Parrott cautions residents to pay attention to deer-crossing signs, keep high beams on the car and always wear a seatbelt.

“Keep in mind (deer) are out chasing and don’t think to look both ways,” Parrott said.