Palos Park Police Alert Motorists To 'Frisky Deer' During Mating Season

Palos Park police are alerting drivers of frisky deer bounding over dark forested roads especially after sundown and before sunrise. Fall is prime rutting or mating season for deer, so if you see a stag or doe stumbling out of the woods smoking a cigarette, you'll know why.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, large animal-vehicle collisions resulted in an average of 187 fatalities in recent years.

Deer collisions are an annual occurrence that will continue through Thanksgiving week. Police advise motorists to slow down early in the morning or after dark to reduce their risk of having a close encounter with a deer.

Deer aren't paying close attention to what's going on around them during the fall mating season, commonly referred to as the "rut.” During the rut, deer are moving about more than usual, and when deer become preoccupied with finding the opposite sex or staying a few steps ahead of rival suitors.

Approximately 1.6 million motor vehicle crashes are caused by deer each year and spike from October through December due to deer mating season, according to the Insurance Information Institute. These collisions make up over $3.6 billion in vehicle damage per year, with each incident averaging $3,000 worth of damage, based on statistics from the III, so you definitely don’t want to hit one.

This time of year, Palos Park’s dark forested roads becomes “deer country” and police ask drivers to be as safe as possible. Dawn and dusk are the times you are most likely to encounter deer along the roadside. Though deer may wander into suburban neighborhoods, they are most frequently found on the outskirts of town and in heavily wooded areas.

As pack animals, deer seldom travel alone. If you see one deer, you can bet that there are others nearby.

How to avoid colliding with a deer:

• The two most important ways to avoid a deer-vehicle collision are: slow down and SLOW DOWN. If you are driving through an area known for high deer populations, slow down and observe the speed limit. The more conservative you are with your speed, the more time you will have to brake if an animal darts into your path.

• Always wear a seatbelt. The most severe injuries in deer-vehicle collisions usually result from failure to use a seatbelt.

• Watch for the shine of eyes along the roadside and immediately begin to slow.

• Use your high beams whenever the road is free of oncoming traffic. This will increase your visibility and give you more time to react.

• Deer can become mesmerized by steady, bright lights so if you see one frozen on the road, slow down and flash your lights. Some experts recommend one long blast of the horn to scare them out of the road, as well.

• Pay close attention to caution signs indicating deer or other large animals. These signs are specifically placed in high-traffic areas where road crossings are frequent.

• If you're on a multi-lane road, drive in the center lane to give as much space to grazing deer as possible.

Deer are unpredictable creatures, and one that is calmly standing at the side of the road may suddenly leap into the roadway unexpectedly. Slowing down when you spot a deer is the best way to avoid a collision. However, if one does move into your path, maintain control and do your best to brake and give the deer time to get out of your way.

If you do collide with a deer (or large animal), call emergency services if injuries are involved, or the local police if no one is injured, but damage has been caused to your property or someone else's. Never touch an animal that is in the roadway.

Unlike that fictional driver from the car commercial, knowing what to do when you encounter a large animal on or near the roadway can be a lifesaver. Keeping calm and driving smart improve your chances of avoiding a collision and staying safe on the road.