Tips to Steer Clear of Deer During Holiday Travel

As families prepare to head over the river and through the woods traveling to Thanksgiving feasts, both the nation’s largest insurer and auto club encourage drivers to be cautious of deer clattering across roadways.

AAA reports the number of crashes involving deer has climbed in recent years due to higher deer populations, increased traffic volume and the habitat reduction due to urban sprawl.

Deer-vehicle collisions are three times more likely in the late fall and winter. November is typically the peak month for crashes because it is the heart of deer migration and mating season. December doesn’t trail far behind, too.

State Farm Auto Insurance estimates 1.22 million collisions between deer and vehicles occurred in the U.S. between July 2012 and June 2013. The property damage cost of these incidents averaged more than $3,300.

For the seventh year in a row, West Virginia tops the list. The chances of a West Virginia motorist striking a deer are about one in 38. By contrast, State Farm says the odds of a Hawaiian driver colliding with a deer are about one in 6,737.

While Louisiana is a largely rural state with long stretches of highway that wind through woods and farmlands, it ranked 41st in the likelihood of those crashes down from 39th in 2012. Based on the last year’s 9,526 deer crashes, the odds of an incident in Louisiana are one in 315. However, if you cross the state line into Mississippi, the chances increases to one in 88.

To reduce the risk of collisions, State Farm and AAA offer the following safety suggestions:

• Be aware of posted deer crossing signs, which are placed in areas of known to have high, deer activity.
• Remember deer are most active between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., and most crashes occur between dusk and dawn.
• Use high-beam headlamps as much as possible at night to illuminate areas in which deer are likely to enter roadways.
• Keep in mind that deer generally travel in herds. If you see one, there is a good chance others are nearby and will follow.
• Do not rely on car-mounted deer whistles.
• If a collision is inevitable, do not swerve to avoid the deer. It’s better to strike the deer than swerve into traffic or hit a tree, sign or other fixed object.

Priscilla is a dainty, sweet little kitten. She is a shy girl, but always close by and interested in her surroundings. Priscilla would be a great companion to someone willing to give her time to trust her new home.

Stargazer was adopted from SOS in the summer of 2011. Her owner recently returned this patched tabby due to a family situation. Once she becomes settled, this two-year-old loves to cuddle. She is best suited to a quiet home.

Dolly is a beauty. She is an interesting combination of basset hound and Rottweiler. It’s hard to say what her full-grown size will be. She probably will have the stature of a basset with more bulk. An SOS foster has raised this spunky, sweet girl since she was two days old, so she is very spoiled and loves to be cuddled.

Parker is a really sweet boy. He was found wandering a neighborhood and, after SOS exhausted all efforts to find his owner, he is now looking for a new home. He loves to cuddle with his humans and gets along very well with other dogs and cats. Parker is a wanderer, though. Once he escapes, he just keeps running, which probably explains how he ended up homeless. His new home will require a fence and an owner who is vigilant about training him not to run out an open door. We know he can do it because he is super smart.

Espresso is sweet, playful female kitten.

Scooter is a handsome, fast learner, who loves being around people. He is content to lie at his owner’s feet in front of the TV or playing outside in the sun. This basenji/terrier mix would probably do well as an only dog or with a calm, large canine companion. He is best suited to a home without children.

These great pets have all been vaccinated, spayed/neutered, microchipped and heartworm tested. Many other puppies, dogs, cats and kittens are available at sosrescuebr.org. You can also visit SOS Rescue at the Siegen PetSmart (map it! link to 10527 S. Mall Dr.) each Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.