These Are The 10 MI Counties With The Most Deer Crashes In 2024

Drivers continue to strike deer on Michigan roads at an alarming rate.

Data from a Michigan Traffic Crash report shows there were more than 58,000 crashes involving deer on Michigan roads in 2024. The bulk of those crashes came between October and December when there were 25,067 deer crashes. The single highest month was November with 10,017 deer crashes.

Of the total 56,697 deer crashes in 2024, there were 128 injuries and four fatalities, according to the data.

The data also shows most crashes involving deer happened in the morning hours between 6-9 a.m.

Here are the Michigan counties with the most reported vehicle crashes involving deer in 2024:

1. Kent - 2,097
2. Oakland - 2,024
3. Jackson - 1,557
4. Allegan - 1,517
5. Genesee - 1,510
6. Clinton - 1,447
7. Ottawa - 1,433
8. Lapeer - 1,426
9. Washtenaw - 1,409
10. Calhoun - 1,382

Experts recommend the following safety tips to avoid hitting deer on the road:

• Slow down when traveling through deer-populated areas.
• Always wear your seat belt.
• Watch for deer, especially at dawn and dusk, when they are most active. If you see one deer, approach cautiously, as more could be out of sight.
• Deer often travel single file, so if you see one cross a road it’s likely more are nearby waiting to cross. When startled by an approaching vehicle, deer can panic and dart out from any direction.
• If a crash with a deer is unavoidable, brake firmly, hold onto the steering wheel with both hands, come to a controlled stop and then proceed to steer your vehicle off the roadway.