How to not collide with a deer

"WHEN BUMPERS MEET ANTLERS: Big brown furry beasts sometimes emerge from the wilderness to cross a public road. Unfortunately, no one taught them to look both ways first. Too often, the result is a motorist's nightmare; collision with a deer. The animal usually comes out second best in this type of close encounter, but the toll on vehicles and their occupants can also be substantial. Each year, about 700,000 animal vehicle collisions cause about $1.2 million in damage, the insurance information institute estimates. While animal-vehicle collisions can happen any time of year, fall is the peak season for deer-car accidents.

No foolproof way has been found to keep deer off highways and away from vehicles.

Deer whistles have their advocates, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says there's no scientific proof to support claims they prevent deer from approaching cars or reduce crash risk.

You can avoid an unplanned meeting with a deer. Here's how:

* Be aware of your surroundings, Pay attention to 'deer crossing' signs. Look well down the road and far off to each side. At night, use your high-beam lights when possible to illuminate the road's edges. Be especially watchful in areas near woods and water. If you see one deer, there may be several others nearby.

* Be particularly alert at dusk and dawn, when these animals venture out to feed.

* If you see a deer, on or near the roadway and think you have time to avoid hitting it, reduce your speed, tap your brakes to warn other drivers, and sound your horn. Deer tend to fixate on headlights, so flashing them may cause the animal to move. If there's no vehicle close behind you, brake hard.

* If a collision seems inevitable, don't swerve to avoid the animal; your risk of injury may be greater if you do. Hit it, but control the vehicle. Report the accident to the police.

* Always obey the speed limit and wear safety belts." (C. Jefferson - 8/05/04)

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If you do collide with a deer, or any other animal, don't get out of the car to look at it unless you are certain it is dead. If it is just stunned you could be in danger.

Be sure to pull off the roadway and park carefully.

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In 2010, vehicles in Grand Teton park hit and killed two wolves, five bears, 6 pronghorn, 17 bison, five moose, 41 deer and 48 elk. Most of the deaths occured between dawn and dusk on the main highway between Moose and Moran Junctions. Please drive the speed limit and be prepared to stop suddenly. Speed was the biggest factor, especially at night when people "overdrive their high beams - when stopping distance is greater than the headlight illumination distance." Driving slower than the posted speed limit, especially after dark, can save animal (and human) lives.

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Also from the Yosemite Daily report:

"The Wawona Safety Team offers the following driving tips from the website of The Humane Society of the United States:

Be Alert!

Be especially watchful for wildlife at dawn, dusk, and in the first few hours after darkness falls. Many species of wildlife are most active at these times.

Edges of roads that border agricultural fields or natural habitats are places to be particularly watchful for wildlife.

Assume that animals do not know to get out of your way. Young animals, in particular, do not recognize cars as a threat.

Lower your dashboard lights slightly. You'll be more likely to see your headlights reflected in the eyes of animals in time to brake.

Every apple core, french fry, and smelly sandwich wrapper tossed out of a car attracts wildlife to roadsides—often with fatal ressults. Never throw litter from your car.

Remember that where there is one animal crossing, there may be more, young animals following their mother or male animals pursuing a mate.

Try to slow down, especially after dark. Many animals needlessly become victims simply because people drive too fast to avoid hitting them. Speed poses a risk to human safety as well.

(D.Shenk/Wawona District Safety Action Team - 12/07/04)

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You might also want to read Safe driving in rain and fog, Prepare for winter driving and/or Snow chain rentals.

Road trip advice and etiquette has practical advice from experienced and newbie carpoolers on cross country trips, including ways to keep from being so bored; planning before the trip; safety issues; drowsy driving; packing; road trip games, storytelling, debates and discussions; links to gas price watch sites, and how to deal with windows that are fogging up faster than your navigator can wipe it off.

Read about safety at wildlife jams

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From the Yosemite Daily report of 10/20/03

"Memorandum To: All Employees, Yosemite National Park

From: Superintendent, Yosemite National Park

Subject: Visitors and Deer Hazards

The opportunity to observe wildlife at close range is a vacation highlight for many visitors to Yosemite. Unfortunately, some visitors carry this experience too far by getting dangerously close to the wildlife, which places both them and the animals at risk. This is especially true with the mule deer that frequent developed areas in Yosemite Valley. Visitors need to be made aware that even though the deer may appear " tame," they are wild animals that can inflict serious injuries. The only wildlife-related fatality in Yosemite's history occurred when a young boy was gored while feeding a mule deer buck.

The risk of similar incidents is especially high in the fall, because this is rutting season, when bucks become more aggressive as they compete for females. However, the danger also exists with does, which are also capable of injuring people with their hooves. The number of deer in developed areas also tends to increase in the fall, as they seek fallen acorns. This further increases the chance of human-deer conflicts. I'm sending you this message because we have had frequent deer sightings near the Park Administration building and in the Mall area. Visitors have also been approaching these animals too closely. If you notice visitors doing this, please stop and take a moment to courteously explain the dangers involved.

/s/Michael J. Tollefson"