Slow down and don't swerve, officials share tips to avoid deer collisions (Atlanta: university)

[Born 2 Roll]

It is deer mating season when both the possibility and incidence of vehicle-deer collisions rises sharply, so be aware and exercise some caution while out driving this fall and early winter season. Be especially careful if one is out driving at either dawn and/or dusk when deer are most active.

From WAGA-TV FOX 5 Atlanta:

It's deer mating season, which means the animals are on the move and causing more wrecks. In Georgia, we average about 50,000 wrecks involving deer each year.

They may not seem so scary at first glance, but deer are the most dangerous animal in the country. They cause more deaths than any other animal. This is the time of year to be cautious and slow down.

Charlie Killmaster is the state deer biologist with the Department of Natural Resources. He knows everything there is to know about deer. "We're just entering the early part of the breeding season, which causes deer movements to increase tremendously.* Bucks are chasing does around, and that causes them to not only be seen more but to be crossing roads more," says Killmaster.

As we prepare for the time change, it also means more drivers will be on the roads, when the deer are really moving around. "Deer are most active at dawn and dusk, that's when they tend to see the best," Killmaster adds.

Many deer like to travel in packs, so if you see one cross the road, don't let your guard down, there may be more coming out of the woods. "Oftentimes it's that second deer that's chasing the first one that ends up getting hit that you don't see," Killmaster shares...

...Killmaster says the deer population is trending down, but an increase in cars on the roads means the potential for deadly collisions is still there. "Deer are the most dangerous animal in the United States. They are responsible for the death of more people than snakes or sharks or anything else," he adds.

Deer mating season runs about 4 to 6 weeks, between October and December, depending on where you live in Georgia. Make sure to keep using caution throughout the fall season.

"State officials share tips to avoid deer collisions" (WAGA-TV FOX 5 Atlanta)
Slow down and don't swerve, state officials share tips to avoid deer collisions - Story | WAGA


The State of Georgia has a "rut map," or breeding map that one can look at to see when the mating season will cause deer to be most active in your particular part of Georgia, including here in a heavily-wooded Atlanta metropolitan area where there appears to be many prime habitats for the area's extremely large deer population.

The timing of the rut, or breeding season, for white-tailed deer varies locally, especially in southern climates like Georgia’s. During the rut, the desire to breed causes deer to become more active compared to the rest of the year. Bucks move more and become less secretive, making them easier to hunt and more susceptible to being hit by motor vehicles.

Researchers at the University of Georgia and biologists with the Wildlife Resources Division found a strong correlation between peak deer-vehicle collision timeframes, deer conception dates and the hourly movement rates of deer tracked by GPS. Based on that information, deer-vehicle collision data provided by the Georgia Department of Transportation was used to map the timing of peak deer movement in Georgia.

"Rut Map for White-tailed Deer" (Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division)
Rut Map for White-tailed Deer | Wildlife Resources Division

[Need4Camaro]

You mean like this? [recorded on my dashcam]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLuitE3m19A

[Atlwarrior]

Great advice! Thanks! I still can't rep you. Ugh!