Worst 10 states for auto-deer collisions

CNN/Money ^ | 11-4-05

[Dan from Michigan]

Worst 10 states for auto-deer collisions
Pennsylvania has the highest number of accidents, according to a survey by insurer State Farm.
November 4, 2005: 12:59 PM EST

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Pennsylvania ranks first among the top ten worst states for vehicle-deer collisions, according to an insurance survey published Thursday.

Citing claim statistics, auto insurer State Farm said that drivers in Pennsylvania experienced more deer collisions than any other state between July 1, 2004 and June 30, 2005.

State Farm estimates that 1.5 million vehicles collide with deer every year, resulting in 150 motorists deaths and $1.1 billion in vehicle damages.

With deer migrating and mating season occurring between October and December, the auto insurer says a higher number of deer are near roads this time of year.

[Dan from Michigan]

My insurer tells me Oakland County, MI is the worst county in the US.

Damn. That's especially considering that the deer are probably in only 1/2 of the county as the rest is a concrete jungle. Livingston County has to be right up there.

[Dan from Michigan]

Proof that Midwestern deer are the most stupid

I agree. They just sit in the middle or the road and stare at you if you're lucky. Else, they jump into the road right in front of you.

[Clemenza]

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Pennsylvania ranks first among the top ten worst states for vehicle-deer collisions, according to an insurance survey published Thursday.

Well DUH! Combine winding roads, hills, sharing the road with horse drawn buggies, and copious consumption of Keystone, and you have the perfect recipe for deer collisions.

In Chester County it is AWFUL. Everytime I go driving when visiting my grandmother I have to swerve to avoid the "Rats with Antlers."

[sanemom]

"I'm actually shocked we aren't number one."

Come to my PA neighborhood and you won't be. My children have the pleasure of seeing about 3-5 deer carcasses lying by the side of the road on every one mile ride to school. Herds of deer graze in our backyard in broad daylight (and I live in a fairly metropolitan area outside Pittsburgh). I have a friend who got fed up with the destruction of his garden and dropped one with a rifle-the four or five others just glanced up for a second and kept on eating.

[absolootezer0]

get a jeep. plowed over one last year in my (slightly lifted) cherokee. no damage. couple blood smears and a few hairs on the bumper and skidplate was all.

[absolootezer0]

get a jeep. plowed over one last year in my (slightly lifted) cherokee. no damage. couple blood smears and a few hairs on the bumper and skidplate was all.

[Uncle Miltie]

Me too! Doe, ~5:30 P.M. Saturday, 110 Yards, straight on head shot, dropped in her tracks.

Venison Loin Medallions

Olive oil
Garlic
Rosemary
Balsamic Vineagar
Salt
Pepper

400+ Degree grill

Sear quickly to medium rare

Serve with rice and pre-boycott Cotes du Rhone.

Yum!

[Namyak]

That's how it was when I went to the local school in Northeastern PA, and as far as I know still is. So few people would show up, teachers, administrators, and students alike that we got the first day of deer season off.

[TheForceOfOne]

I had antlers go through the hood and windshield of my 89 Firebird Formula not so long ago in PA.

[Bear_Slayer]

can't imagine how much damage a Mule Deer would do, be like hitting a horse

I helped butcher a moose, for a local food bank, that had been hit by a sports car. The moose was salvageable, but mangled. I can't imagine what the car looked like.

[Bear_Slayer]

I hit three in the first year in MT. I started thinking that these were palestinian sucicide deer.

[Osage Orange]

So...I guess I need to place my deer stands up next to roads.

[Bear_Slayer]

she had hit 2 in the past week but not reported them

I worked with a guy that hit the same deer three times.

he hit it. It bounced into the windshield and then back in front of the car and then he ran over it.

A similar occasion for me. I stopped to put down an injured doe on the road. I loaded her in my van to take to the local food bank. I rounded a corner and hit a deer and had to put that one down also. The food bank got a twofer that day.

[Osage Orange]

Believe it or not white tail usualy don't herd. You might see 2 or 3 does persued by a buck during rut but thats about it and the does you see together are usualy related, mother and daughters.

Well...that certainly explains the 40 to 60 deer I saw on a neighbors wheat field.

[eastforker]

Those are groups not herds. The local beer joint have groups of people on Saturday night, but not herds of people. Yes deer will congregate at feeding places but that does not mean the same as a herd. White tail by most parts are solitary animals but if you have a huge population then you will find many in the same feeding/ watering hole at the same time.

[Osage Orange]

I dunno...you said "usually" they don't herd...now you tell me they definitely don't. I'm soooo confused...LOL!!!

Yes, I know by "the book"....you are correct. I'm just yanking your chain.

FRegards,

[rintense]

I've come close several times, but never hit one. A friend of mine hit one, and the day after getting her van back, hit another one. LOL!

[Dan from Michigan]

Luckily, I've never hit one, although I keep a watch for them.

My dad hit one right in front of his house, and my mom's SUV was hit by a deer (you read that right) less than a mile from the same house. A buck attacked the SUV, got up, and walked away.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

We only lived there for 5.5 years, killed one deer outright, and clipped another one resulting in damage to a second vehicle..... so I guess we helped add to the "award" of being #1

[rintense]

That's where the term Buck Nutty comes from! I remember when I first got my driving permit, I almost hit a deer with my mom's 75 Monte Carlo. That would have been one dead deer!