Deer activity, accident potential increases in fall

Deer become more active in the fall. With temperatures falling and increased activity, the Nebraska State Patrol urges drivers to be more alert on roadways.

According to information from the patrol and Nebraska Game and Parks, deer pose a potentially dangerous threat to themselves and the occupants of vehicles traveling Nebraska’s highways and country roads, especially during October and November.

There are many different reasons that drivers may see an increase in deer on the the roadways in the fall.

As the harvest begins, crop and cover patterns will change quickly and daylight hours become shorter. As the deer breeding season approaches, deer will have a lot of things to distract them, also making them potentially more dangerous to drivers.

Nebraska State Trooper Lt. Kevin Krzyzanowsk said the elevated number of deer on the roads can also be caused by lower precipitation levels that occur in the fall. “Drivers are more likely to see the elevated levels of deer along Hwy. 30 near areas of water such as Lodgepole Creek, as deer migrate to find water sources,” Krzyzanowsk said.

There are also times of the day that are more hazardous. Deer are more active each day near dawn and just after dusk. “Dawn and dusk are when most of the animal related accidents take place,” Krzyzanowsk said. “Drivers should be diligent in scanning the road in front of them.

“We have worked 13 car/deer crashes the last two weeks in Scottsbluff area. They are clearly on the rise,” Krzyzanowsk said.

Nebraska Game and Parks gives some helpful tips so drivers can do to try to avoid deer-vehicle accidents:

• When driving near shelterbelts, woodlots, creeks, or where crops are still standing, especially during evening or early morning, reduce your speed and watch for deer.

• When you spot a deer, assume there will be others in the same area, either ahead of or behind the one you have seen.

• Be prepared to stop suddenly.

• Many places where deer are known to travel are posted with deer crossing signs, but the absence of a sign does not mean a deer will not unexpectedly appear.

• Deer often seem to be disoriented or confused by headlights. Some react by freezing in the light, some dart into the path of the vehicle, others bolt away in the opposite direction. Sometimes deer that have just crossed the road ahead of the vehicle suddenly change direction and run back into the path of a vehicle or collide with it.

• Honk your horn and flash your headlights to frighten deer away from the side of the road. If there is other traffic on the road, you can activate your emergency flashers and tap your brakes to alert other drivers to the potential danger.

• Anticipate the possibility of a deer unexpectedly crossing in front of you and plan ahead to avoid swerving, turning or braking the vehicle too sharply if a deer suddenly appears.

• If a deer is on the roadway, try to stop and avoid the animal without leaving the road surface if possible.

“Don’t swerve to miss one and lose control. If the damage is over $1,000 it needs to be reported, and always wear your seatbelt,” Krzyzanowsk concluded.