FAIRFIELD, Connecticut — Bonnie Sashin, a retired public relations professional, and her husband had just wrapped up a delightful Thanksgiving celebration with family at her stepson’s home in the suburban city of Fairfield, Connecticut, a picturesque town of approximately 61,000 residents nestled on Long Island Sound.
As they bid their farewells to the family, the sun had already dipped below the horizon, Sashin remembers.
They hopped into her relatively new Subaru Forester SUV, planning to spend the night at a nearby hotel instead of embarking on a two-and-a-half-hour journey back to Brookline, Massachusetts, in the pitch dark with full bellies.
“Just as we were leaving the residential area where my stepson resides, I felt something collide with the car. It was dark, and I was clueless about what it could be. I was quite startled,” Sashin recounted.
“My husband speculated it might be an animal. We immediately stopped, and luckily, a kind-hearted woman in the car ahead of us also stopped. She got out of her car, saw me, and kindly informed us, ‘Oh, that was a deer.’ She added, ‘It’s a common occurrence around here,'” Sashin recalled.
The Perilous Deer Dilemma
It appears that deer-vehicle collisions are not just a problem in southern Connecticut but are a widespread issue across the United States and even in other countries. Sashin was lucky to escape the incident unscathed.
Even those aware of the frequency of deer-vehicle collisions might be taken aback by these alarming statistics from a November 2022 study published in the journal Cell Biology:
- Approximately 2.1 million deer-vehicle collisions occur each year.
- These collisions result in over $10 billion in economic losses annually.
- Every year, they are responsible for around 59,000 human injuries and 440 human fatalities.
Kip Adams, the chief conservation officer with the National Deer Association, points out that deer pose a greater threat to Americans each year than the terrifying creatures often depicted in movies and TV shows – sharks, alligators, bears, and venomous snakes – combined. For example, there were only two fatalities from shark attacks in the United States in 2023.
It seems we should be more concerned about “Bambi” than “Jaws.”
And the United States is not the only country grappling with a deer problem. A 2023 study from Scotland’s nature agency, NatureScot, estimated that deer-vehicle collisions result in 700 injuries or deaths in the United Kingdom each year.
Deer-related issues are also prevalent in diverse locations such as British Columbia, Japan, Australia, and Germany.
So, what measures can drivers take to safeguard themselves from unexpected encounters with these herbivores?
When Time is Not in Your Favor
According to Adams, the best defense against a deer collision is not a high-tech device but awareness.
“The first step in minimizing the risk of hitting a deer is to be aware of their most active periods,” he explained to CNN Travel in a phone interview. “This includes their daily activity patterns and their annual activity patterns.”
Adams advises drivers to be particularly vigilant during sunrise and sunset. Why? Because deer are crepuscular creatures, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. “Their eyes are adapted to low-light conditions, which allows them to evade predators and forage more effectively during these times,” Adams explained.
However, these are not the times when human vision is at its peak. “The combination of increased deer activity and reduced human vision during these periods contributes to a higher incidence of deer-vehicle collisions,” Adams added.
Chad Stewart, a deer, elk, and moose management specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, agrees.
“The hour before and after both sunrise and sunset are the times when collisions are most likely to occur,” he stated in an email interview with CNN Travel. “This is partly due to deer activity during these times and also due to heavy traffic.”
However, Adams warns that collisions can occur at any time of the day or night.
Collisions can also happen at any time of the year – deer do not hibernate, Adams points out. But there are two periods of the year that are typically more high risk.
Adams identified the first high-risk period as spring, which is fawning season. “Deer are much more active near roads during this time,” he said.
“When a doe is about to give birth, they become extremely territorial. This results in deer spreading out more across the landscape, increasing the likelihood of them being near a road.”
However, autumn, particularly November, is the most dangerous season, according to Adams. “During this time, deer significantly increase their daily movement patterns, especially the bucks.”
Research from State Farm insurance company also identifies November as the month with the highest likelihood of animal collisions.
High-Risk Areas
As Bonnie Sashin’s collision in a Connecticut suburb demonstrates, deer encounters are not limited to wilderness areas.
“Suburban areas typically have higher deer densities, and with more vehicle miles driven in these areas compared to rural areas, the total number of collisions tends to be highest in these areas,” Stewart warned.
“However, any place has the potential for a collision, especially where habitat transitions occur (e.g., forest to field), which are commonly used locations for deer,” Stewart added.
Adams advises extra caution in areas where the woods are close to the road, where “we have very little opportunity to spot deer before they are in front of a vehicle.”
Suburbs also pose a significant problem, he said, “because it’s extremely difficult to manage deer populations in these areas. We can’t go in there in most cases and hunt like we do in more rural areas.”
Defensive Driving
Once you’re aware of when and where the risk of collision is highest, it’s time to implement driving strategies.
“Basic safe driving principles apply to reduce your chance of a collision. First and foremost, avoid distracted driving,” Stewart advised. Also, slow down in areas known to have high deer numbers so you can “react better should one jump out in front of your vehicle.”
Adams recommends using your high beams whenever possible in deer territory – but be careful not to blind oncoming traffic.
The National Deer Association also suggests making good use of your car horn, as demonstrated in this YouTube video.
Here are some additional tips from the Michigan State Police:
- Deer typically follow one another in single file, so if you see one deer, there are likely more nearby.
- Look for the reflection of headlights in a deer’s eyes and deer silhouettes on the shoulder of the road.
- Scan the roadside while driving, especially around wooded lots, fencerows, field edges, and areas near water.
Do. Not. Swerve.
Unfortunately, despite all precautions, some drivers will be forced to make a split-second decision – and must resist a natural impulse – when a deer suddenly appears in the road.
“We have a campaign in Michigan called ‘Don’t veer for deer.’ The reason for this phrase is that while nobody wants to hit a deer, swerving to avoid a deer and hitting something else, like a telephone pole or another car, can have far worse consequences,” Stewart explained.
“Sometimes, collisions with deer simply can’t be avoided. But the important thing is not to make it worse for you or somebody else by abruptly and erratically leaving your lane,” Stewart added.
Deers are harmless disagree
Disagree – Deer are generally more skittish and less aggressive than sharks and bears.
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