As Daylight Saving Time Ends, Increased Deer Threat On PA Roads Begins

PENNSYLVANIA — It's a combination fraught with potential danger.

With daylight saving time ending this weekend, more motorists will be on the roads during the hours when deer are most likely to be crossing them. Add to that the fact that deer are increasingly active during their autumnal mating season - known as the rut - and the risk of vehicle-deer collisions increases significantly.

That's why the Pennsylvania Game Commission is advising motorists to be extra aware and alert once the time change occurs early Sunday.

“As the rut approaches, whitetails are ramping up their activity levels and expanding their home ranges,” Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith said in a statement. “We would like to encourage all drivers to be extra mindful of intensified deer movement this time of year.”

A recent analysis by State Farm, the nation's largest vehicle insurer, revealed that Pennsylvania by far led the nation in the number of insurance claims filed for auto-animal collisions last year. No other state was close. Michigan was second with 131,000, followed by North Carolina (98,000), Texas (92,500) and Ohio (82,500).

According to the game commission, this time of year many yearling bucks wander as far as several dozen miles to find new ranges. Meanwhile, frisky adult bucks are searching for does in their home ranges and sometimes chase the does they encounter.

The game commission advises paying close attention when driving on stretches marked with deer crossing signs. Deer frequently travel in groups and walk single file, so even if one deer successfully crosses the road in front of the driver, the threat might not be over.

A passing Pennsylvania motorist also can claim the deer, if the person whose vehicle hit it doesn’t want it.

If a deer is struck by a vehicle but not killed, the game commission urges drivers to maintain their distance because some deer might recover and move on. But if the deer does not keep moving, motorists should report the incident to the game commission or another law enforcement agency.

To get a dead deer removed from a state road, motorists can call PennDOT at 1-800-FIX-ROAD.