As Dangerous Deer Activity Increases, Montco Drivers Urged To Be Cautious

As peak deer season continues around the country, authorities in Montgomery County are warning drivers to exercise increased caution.

There have been an abundance of accidents around the region this year involving deer, some of them fatal.

"As the days get shorter and the weather cools down, deer activity increases, especially around dawn and dusk," Hatfield police shared. "(We) remind all drivers to stay alert and use extra caution on local roads"

A fatal crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in early October, which left an Ambler man dead, was caused by deer. So was a September crash that left a Malvern Prep student dead.

Fall is breeding season for white-tailed, meaning they're on the move and more likely to cross roads and come into contact with vehicles. As the season wears on and it gets darker earlier, the local area offer plenty of dimly lit, windy, sloping country roads that not only offer perfect deer habitat in the woods and fields on either side of the road, but provide the perfect storm of conditions to impair judgement.

Collisions typically rise throughout the fall, and peak in mid-November.

"Should you find yourself in a situation where you can’t avoid hitting a deer, don’t swerve—but do brake firmly and stay in your lane," Lower Moreland police added. "Swerving can confuse animals and force you off the road or into the path of oncoming traffic. Remember, vehicle damage caused by animal strikes is often paid for by your auto insurance if you carry comprehensive coverage. If you carry liability only, you will not likely be covered for animal-related strikes."

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. Along most of the eastern seaboard, 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.

In eastern Pennsylvania specifically, the deer population is roughly 10 times what the region's forests are built to handle, according to wildlife biologists and environmental experts.