It’s the 2nd-worst time of year for deer crashes

Bambi is on the move, and keeping body shops busy with repair work

Motorcyclists beware: This is the second-worst time of the year for deer running into traffic on Wisconsin’s roads and highways.

This is the time of year when deer are moving.

“Deer activity typically increases in June as females search for places to give birth and young deer separate from their mothers,” according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

“June typically ranks high as a month when motorists are most likely to be injured in vehicle/deer crashes,” according to the DOT.

In 2017 in Wisconsin, nine people were killed in deer-related crashes. Six were motorcyclists.

In 2016, there were 11 fatal crashes involving deer in Wisconsin. All 11 victims were motorcyclists.

And, in 2013, 17.9 percent of passenger car/deer crashes resulted in death or injury to a motor vehicle occupant, according to the DOT.

But the occurrence of injury or death to motorcyclists who collided with deer was almost quadruple that, at 68.3 percent. “It’s that time of year when we see an increase in traffic volumes, in vehicle speeds and deer activity,” David Pabst, director of the DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Safety, said in a statement. “The best advice to prevent deer crashes and protect yourself is to be alert, slow down, buckle up — and if you’re motorcycling — always wear protective equipment.”

Besides the safety concerns, there are businesses that are busy as a result of the deer crashes.

“We just got two (deer damaged vehicles) in, back-to-back,” said Daron

Powers, sales manager at Goff ’s Collision Repair Centers. “That’s the way it’s been for the past week or two. They just keep coming.”

Goff’s has six locations in the Milwaukee metro area.

“It seems like the spring deer hits are becoming more prevalent,” Powers added. “I don’t know if by count or by study if that’s true or not, but it certainly does seem to me that it is getting heavier in the spring.”

As we get further into summer the deer collisions will subside, Powers said. The number of crashes will begin to increase again in early fall.

Anyone who traveled in Wisconsin during the Memorial Day weekend no doubt noticed the large number of vehicle-killed deer along the sides of highways.

That keeps the folks who clean up highways very busy.

The DOT works with private vendors or counties to manage deer carcass removal.

Requirements call for disposal of deer carcasses along the state highway system (all numbered highways) within two business days after receiving a report of an animal having been struck and killed.

The DOT offers these tips to avoid collisions with deer:

❚ Be especially vigilant in early morning and evening hours when deer are most active.

❚ Slow down and eliminate distractions.

❚ When one deer appears, look for more. Deer seldom run alone.

❚ Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path.

❚ Do not swerve — unless you are operating a motorcycle, in which case you should slow down, brake firmly and then swerve if necessary to avoid hitting the deer.

❚ Be aware of areas that are prone to deer crossings. Such areas are often marked with signs.