Drivers warned frisky deer pose possible danger to life on roads as rut season begins

Autumn brings higher collision risk

Deer are more likely to be near or on roads during the fall rut, when bucks seek to court does. Officials have issued warnings across the country as the mating season gets underway.

The highest-risk months are November, October and December, according to the article. Daily commutes often coincide with periods of peak animal activity at dawn and dusk.

States and local warnings

West Virginia, Montana and Wisconsin rank highest for animal crashes. In New Jersey, the Department of Environmental Protection said the fall rut lasts from mid-to-late October until mid-December.

New York faces a substantial toll as well. State transport officials estimate that between 60,000 and 70,000 deer crashes occur there each year.

Darker commutes raise concern

The hazard is expected to grow when daylight saving time ends on November 1. The change shifts busy traffic periods into darker hours, when drivers may have less visibility. National insurance data shows drivers have a 1 in 145 chance of hitting an animal, and deer top the list of wildlife struck.