KANSAS CITY – Deer are beginning to stir and will soon have one thing on their minds, and it’s certainly not to follow human traffic laws.
The rut - the deer mating season - is beginning around the region and the KC Metro. And that means deer are on the move, traveling far and wide, looking for mates.
"The does will be in heat, the bucks will be out doing what they do, they only have one thing on their mind, so unlit areas… pay attention, drive slow, take your time," says Derek Cole, conservation agent with the Missouri Department of Conservation.
“Deer movement will soon increase at an exponential rate,” said Nadia Marji, spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
During the rut, expect deer to be present on and near roadways at any time of day, but especially at dusk and dawn. Cole says just because you can’t see them, it doesn’t mean they’re not there.
"I like to say, the ones you don’t see, are the ones that’ll get you. So if you see some on the side of the road, be aware that there are others you just can’t see," said Cole.
When you encounter a deer in the road - a typical split-second instinct is to swerve to avoid them.
“It is best to hit the animal and not swerve to avoid it,” said Lieutenant Candice Breshears with the Kansas Highway Patrol. “Often, we find more serious crashes occur when you swerve to miss the deer, potentially losing control of your vehicle, leaving the road or veering into oncoming traffic.”
While the vast majority of vehicle-deer collisions do not result in serious injury, data collected by KDOT indicates that in 2021, six people were killed and 622 were injured in collisions involving deer.
It's recommended drivers check with their insurance company to determine if they're fully covered for a deer strike, and/or covered for a swerve and a crash.