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Valentines Day might be off your radar, but "love" is very much on the minds of deer and moose during October. It is now peak breeding season for the regions growing moose population, and the middle of the mating season (also known as the rut) for white-tailed deer. During these months bucks throw caution to the wind in order to seek out a mate, and driving throughout Westchester County, where there is a profusion of deer, can get particularly dicey.
While few moose are roaming the woods in the southern part of the region, deer remain an ongoing concern for motorists. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (Wildlife Division) biologist Howard Kilpatrick, says: Each year, approximately 12,000 deer are killed or found dead on the side of the road.
While deer-related crashes are generally catastrophic for the animals, they are costly to automobile owners. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that approximately 1.6 million deer-motor vehicle crashes occur each year on roads nationally. Such collisions make up over $3.6 billion in vehicle damage per year.
"Basically, bucks run around all day chasing girls," says Mark Harper, an animal control officer. "And they really don't care where they're going. It can be a backyard or back road. They just go," he adds. And they go fast, often at speeds of 40 miles per hour.
Kilpatrick explains that mating season keeps deer on the move, which means "watch for deer" road signs aren't applicable only at dusk and dawn. However, he says, during those times of day and night deer tend to be more active. Additionally, he says, deer are herd animals. "If you see one near the side of the road it's possible the animal isn't traveling alone."
Two additional factors are now conspiring to make driving that much dangerous where deer are concerned, says Kilpatrick. The end of daylight savings time (Nov. 6) means rush hour and dusk will be simultaneous, so the likelihood of deer collisions increases. Also, he says, acorn (a deer favorite) crops were low this year; deer are instead feeding on grass a preponderance of which grows adjacent to highways and parkways.
White-tailed deer, members of the Cervidae family that calls Westchester County home, have adapted well to suburban life. This accounts for an uptick in their population, which is estimated to be some 30 million throughout the country.
The AAA Foundation for Automotive Safety has these tips for head's up driving during deer mating season:
Decrease speed. It gives you more time to react.
Look for deer-crossing signs indicating areas where deer frequently travel. Deer are creatures of habit and often use the same path again, so remember where you see them.
Be alert. A deer standing near a roadside may suddenly run across the road. Slow down and use your horn to scare the deer. Never shine or flash your vehicle's lights. This can cause the deer to fixate on your vehicle. Use high beams for greater visibility.
Don't swerve. It can cause you to lose control of your vehicle and strike another vehicle or object along the roadway.
Do not rely on devices. There is no conclusive evidence that hood-mounted deer whistles and other such devices work.
Slow down. If a crash with a deer is unavoidable, release your foot from the brake before impact. This will raise the front end of the car during the crash and increase the likelihood that the animal will go underneath the vehicle instead of through the windshield.
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