ONE-ON-ONE: DNR expert speaks about avoiding deer-vehicle collisions during darker months

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, almost half of deer-vehicle collisions take place in the months of October and November.

While you may have seen deer on your commute, you might not know what to do to prevent a collision.

“We’re in a better place now than we were 20 years ago,” said SC DNR’s Charles Ruth. “When our population was maxed out, we had parts of the state that had more deer than they needed at one time.”

Even with coyotes and deer hunters being credited by DNR for keeping the deer population under control, this time of year is the breeding season for white-tailed deer. Over the next couple of months, you may see more of them in the open.

“Another thing to keep in mind that’s on top of the annual timing issue is the propensity of deer to move early in the morning or late in the evening,” said Ruth, who serves as the department’s big game coordinator. “Unfortunately, that’s when we commute as humans. We will probably have a rash of deer-vehicle collisions when we change the time.”

Daylight saving time results in more drivers commuting in the dark and encountering more deer.

If a deer is far ahead, you are advised to reduce your speed, honk your horn and turn on your headlights if there is no oncoming traffic. 

However, sometimes a collision is unavoidable.

“If a collision with a deer is imminent, hit the deer,” Ruth advises. “Don’t take evasive action because that’s when most significant injuries occur. Someone tries to avoid the deer, loses control of the vehicle and hits a tree or embankment.”

The DNR reports that deer-vehicle collisions are more common on rural roads, but Ruth says changes in habitat are the most likely place where a deer will cross the road.

“For example, you have an agricultural field that comes to an end at the woods or a creek crossing. Those habitat features are used by deer as travel corridors,” Ruth explains. “Whenever you have a break or change in habitat, that’s probably a place where deer have been crossing.”

Also, a deer crossing road sign does not indicate a specific deer path but rather a stretch of road where a deer-vehicle collision has occurred in the past.