PA Among Worst States For Deer Collisions As Peak Season Underway

PENNSYLVANIA — In few parts of America are you more likely to strike a deer with your car than in Pennsylvania, State Farm found in its 19th annual animal collision study released this week.

And those odds sharply increased during the pandemic, when the chances of a motorist striking an animal on a U.S. road leapt by more than 7 percent.

Motorists collided with animals an estimated 2.1 million times between July 2020 and June 2021, according to the analysis. Crashes happened in every state and peaked in October, November and December.

Pennsylvania had an estimated 166,404 auto insurance claims during that time period, which led the entire country.

Meanwhile, the chances of hitting a deer or other animal on a Pennsylvania road was 1 in 54, which trailed only Montana, South Dakota, and West Virginia nationwide.

Deer are often hit by vehicles for several reasons, and most of them are our fault.

Deer have become so widespread in part due to an imbalance in the ecosystem. In Pennsylvania, their natural predators are few and far between. Mountain lions and wolves no longer exist in the region, and this has allowed their numbers to inflate.

Moreover, human development is uniquely suited to deer; they crave the edge habitat, where open space or a road meets the woods. Pennsylvania and other quickly growing areas fit the bill.

Insurance factors

Historically, November is the most dangerous month for deer and other animal collisions, according to an analysis of 12 months by State Farm

The state with the highest number of insurance claims was Pennsylvania, where motorists filed an estimated 166,404 auto insurance claims involving collisions with animals. Michigan came in second, followed by Texas and California, where the number of claims spiked by 65 percent from July 2020 to June 2021. Rounding out the top five was North Dakota.

When considering the likelihood of hitting a deer or other animal, West Virginia took the top spot with a 1 in 37 chance, followed by Montana, where the chances of hitting an animal were 1 in 39, a 17 percent increase from the previous. South Dakota was third with a 1 in 48 chance, followed by Michigan and Pennsylvania, which both had a 1 in 54 chance.

Compare that to the District of Columbia, where it is estimated fewer than 1,000 animal collisions took place during the recent 12-month period analyzed for the study. In the District, drivers have a 1 in 569 chance of hitting an animal.

Which animals are we hitting? Deer are reported most frequently — an estimated 1.4 million collisions were with deer, according to State Farm. Next on the list are more than 189,000 collisions with “unidentified animals,” followed by rodents, dogs and raccoons.

While not in the top five, State Farm said, the range of other animals involved in collisions is “extremely diverse.” The company’s claims database includes reports of chickens, alligators, bats, cows, pigs, armadillos, bears, donkeys, eagles, horses, coyotes, owls and cats.

State Farm also offered tips to avoid hitting deer, although those steps aren't anything you shouldn't already be taking.

- Slow down, particularly at dusk and dawn.

- If you see one deer, be prepared for more deer to cross the road.

- Pay attention to deer crossing signs.

- Always buckle up — every trip, every time.

- Use your high beams to see farther, except when there is oncoming traffic.

- Brake if you can, but avoid swerving, which can result in a more severe crash.

- Remain focused on the road. Scan for potential dangers, including animals.

- Avoid distractions. Devices or eating might cause you to miss seeing an animal.

- Do not rely on products such as deer whistles. They are not proven effective.

- If riding a motorcycle, always wear protective gear. Keep focused on the road ahead.