MONROE - They might sometimes appear too unintelligent to move out of the way, but deer are really just in a persistent pursuit of a mate and not worrying about the vehicles that hit them.
Bucks are chasing doe deer all over the Wisconsin countryside during their mating season, known as the rut. With more than 200 vehicle vs. deer accidents so far this year in Green County, it is important for drivers to keep in mind that deer are not looking for you - you have to look for them.
Mike Foy, Terrestrial Wildlife Biologist for Green and Dane counties, said the fall season is the peak time of the year for accidents, as the deer are much more active and run around with abandon.
"In a few weeks here, it will be over for the year," Foy said.
As of Friday, there have been 214 deer-caused accidents in Green County out of 530 total accidents reported to the Green County Sheriff's Office. This accounts for about 40 percent of all accidents, typical of previous years, like in 2013 where deer caused 43 percent of accidents at 289 total deer vs. vehicle accidents. According to Foy, in 2010 there were 312 deer-caused accidents, 290 in 2011 and 289 in 2012, reported by the Green County Sheriff's Department.
Foy said vehicle vs. deer accidents have been relatively stable for about 20 years, and he suspects it is because motorists are more aware that this time of year means deer are more active.
"People are starting to get the idea that deer are a common hazard in the fall," Foy said.
There are no safe predictions about where deer will crop up, especially in the fall when they tend to move around more at dusk and dawn. Motorists should be extra wary at these twilight hours as the light becomes harsher making it harder to see and deer are on the move looking for food or mates.
Foy said the average deer vs. vehicle accident costs a motorist about $3,000 in damages.
The Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Safety has some helpful advice for drivers during this fall season. The DOT advises drivers to scan both the roadway ahead and immediately in front of them for deer, always wear a seatbelt and drive slow. If you see a deer, slow down and blow your horn, do not swerve as it may confuse the deer, which will freeze in front of you. If you are unable to avoid hitting a deer, brake firmly but do not swerve, unless you are on a motorcycle, in which case only attempt to swerve as a final option. If you hit a deer, pull over and call the sheriff's office and stay in your vehicle. If the animal is still alive, do not try and move it; an injured deer can be very dangerous.
Green County Sheriff Mark Rohloff also warned to keep an eye out for activated farm equipment that will spook deer towards roadways. Rohloff said vehicle vs. deer accidents should drop after gun-deer season ends on Nov. 30 and the holiday hunt Dec. 24-Jan. 1.
"We can't wait for gun-deer season to get over since it clears them out and they drop down to a more tolerable level," Rohloff said.
Bucks are chasing doe deer all over the Wisconsin countryside during their mating season, known as the rut. With more than 200 vehicle vs. deer accidents so far this year in Green County, it is important for drivers to keep in mind that deer are not looking for you - you have to look for them.
Mike Foy, Terrestrial Wildlife Biologist for Green and Dane counties, said the fall season is the peak time of the year for accidents, as the deer are much more active and run around with abandon.
"In a few weeks here, it will be over for the year," Foy said.
As of Friday, there have been 214 deer-caused accidents in Green County out of 530 total accidents reported to the Green County Sheriff's Office. This accounts for about 40 percent of all accidents, typical of previous years, like in 2013 where deer caused 43 percent of accidents at 289 total deer vs. vehicle accidents. According to Foy, in 2010 there were 312 deer-caused accidents, 290 in 2011 and 289 in 2012, reported by the Green County Sheriff's Department.
Foy said vehicle vs. deer accidents have been relatively stable for about 20 years, and he suspects it is because motorists are more aware that this time of year means deer are more active.
"People are starting to get the idea that deer are a common hazard in the fall," Foy said.
There are no safe predictions about where deer will crop up, especially in the fall when they tend to move around more at dusk and dawn. Motorists should be extra wary at these twilight hours as the light becomes harsher making it harder to see and deer are on the move looking for food or mates.
Foy said the average deer vs. vehicle accident costs a motorist about $3,000 in damages.
The Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Safety has some helpful advice for drivers during this fall season. The DOT advises drivers to scan both the roadway ahead and immediately in front of them for deer, always wear a seatbelt and drive slow. If you see a deer, slow down and blow your horn, do not swerve as it may confuse the deer, which will freeze in front of you. If you are unable to avoid hitting a deer, brake firmly but do not swerve, unless you are on a motorcycle, in which case only attempt to swerve as a final option. If you hit a deer, pull over and call the sheriff's office and stay in your vehicle. If the animal is still alive, do not try and move it; an injured deer can be very dangerous.
Green County Sheriff Mark Rohloff also warned to keep an eye out for activated farm equipment that will spook deer towards roadways. Rohloff said vehicle vs. deer accidents should drop after gun-deer season ends on Nov. 30 and the holiday hunt Dec. 24-Jan. 1.
"We can't wait for gun-deer season to get over since it clears them out and they drop down to a more tolerable level," Rohloff said.