From now through November, the Missouri Highway Patrol expects a high number of crashes involving vehicles running into deer.
Last year, drivers in Missouri experienced 4,604 traffic crashes where deer-vehicle strikes occurred. That adds up to one deer strike every two hours. In these crashes there were six fatalities and 455 people injured.
The largest number of deer strike crashes occur in November each year; and although they can occur at any time, most occur between 5 p.m.-6:59 a.m.
Rural areas are not the only places where deer-vehicle strikes occur. Deer often travel in groups, so drivers should stay on guard after a close call or when you see a single deer. Natural features also affect deer movement. In areas where there are streams or wooded corridors surrounded by farmland, look for more deer to cross roadways.
Deer behavior changes due to mating season, which may cause an increase in sightings and roadway crossings. Hunting and crop harvesting might result in these animals being in places they aren't usually seen.