They’re hard to overlook.
Officials in New Jersey are alerting commuters about the rising activity of amorous deer as mating season reaches its peak.
Drivers should prepare for greater sightings of white-tailed deer in the early morning and evening as bucks will be pursuing does during this season, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection warned on Friday.
Referred to as the “fall rut,” the peak mating period for deer spans from mid-October to mid-December, according to the agency.
“Collisions with deer present a serious safety risk and can lead to substantial vehicle damage and even loss of life,” cautioned Dave Golden, assistant commissioner for NJDEP Fish & Wildlife.
“It’s crucial for drivers to be particularly vigilant and to know how to minimize the risk of these accidents.”
As daylight savings time concludes on Nov. 1, the visibility of the roaming bucks is expected to decline, complicating the situation for drivers.
This time change will likely result in more people on the road during the hours when bucks are most active, which significantly heightens the chances of car-deer collisions, officials warned.
Each year, approximately 25,000 deer-related car accidents occur in New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.
A similar situation exists in New York, where an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 accidents involving deer take place annually, the New York State Department of Transportation noted, adding that they recently kicked off a campaign to raise awareness.
To protect themselves from these frisky bucks, officials recommend that drivers slow down, keep an eye out for “Deer Crossing” signs, and use high beams during nighttime driving.
In suburban New Jersey, the white-tailed deer population has become concerning, with an estimated 100,000 deer currently roaming in the state, as reported by Gothamist.
