Published: November 03, 2008 10:22 am      

Car-deer crashes are on the rise

Fall marks an increase in car-deer collisions in Indiana, and some of those types of accidents have been occurring in the Goshen area.

John Salb, conservation officer for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, said the breeding season for deer is arriving, which makes deer more active, though he noted that in this part of the country, “crashes involving cars and deer can happen 365 days a year.”

Goshen police reported six cases of accidents involving cars and deer within the city limits this year, with one taking place in October, three in May and one each in March and June.

The increased activity of the deer during mating season is one factor in moving deer around, but so is the harvest season. Farmers remove standing crops which are used by deer for hiding and resting areas.

“During mating season, they have no fear and are oblivious to traffic,” Salb said.

Deer are most active during the dusk and dawn hours, so Salb suggests drivers use their vehicle’s high beams to illuminate the deer when possible. Other tips Salb gave include using your horn if you see deer and slowing down instead of swerving.

The most important thing for drivers, according to Salb, just to be aware of their surroundings.

“Always believe there is more than one deer at a time,” Salb advised.

Despite all the warning and precautions taken, sometimes a collision with a deer is unavoidable. Dale Moore, 44, Goshen, recently was involved in such an accident.

Moore said he was driving west on Ind. 120 roughly a mile east of Ind. 13 in a Chevrolet Silverado hauling a trailer full of wood when two does on the south side of the road came out of a low area and ran across the road. Moore’s vehicle collided with the first one, killing it, and injured the second one. He was uninjured.

He said the collision happened so quickly there was no way to avoid it.

“I was hitting the brakes as I was hitting the deer that’s how fast it happened,” Moore said.

Moore, an avid deer hunter, said he drives country roads regularly and is always aware of areas where deer may be prevalent. He drives with his high beams on and looks for their eye shine.

He said archery hunting season for deer is under way but he doesn’t believe the deer are spooked by the hunters as much as they are with bucks mating activities.

Luckily for Moore, his insurance company deemed the accident unavoidable and he did not have to pay a deductible, a law unique to the state of Indiana.