Drivers, beware, as we enter a dangerous month on Wisconsin's roads for car crashes involving deer.
WisDOT says June has been ranked either the worst or second worst month for motorists' injuries from deer crashes for the past five years.
And this June, experts expect there to be no shortage of deer darting into traffic, especially during your morning commute.
Experts say Wisconsin saw just under 20,000 deer-related crashes last year, many of them happening at dawn, and dusk, when deer are most active.
But it's more than deer habits that make June a dangerous month on the roads, and drivers are often finding themselves partly to blame, at least, for a sizable number of car vs. deer crashes.
Here, in Northeast Wisconsin, it can be hard to avoid them.
"I live in a house that has deer at it every single night," laughs Howard neighbor Billy Kuchta.
With a large presence of deer near his home already, Kuchta says, so far, he's lucky he hasn't hit a deer while driving, "except, one time a deer hit me. I was driving down the road, and I heard a noise. It sounded like somebody threw something at me," he adds, laughing.
Experts say it isn't surprising "whether they hit the front of your vehicle, or the side of your vehicle. Sometimes they'll run right into the side," says WI State Trooper Andrew Jacobs.
Out on Highway 29, with a 65 mph speed limit, Jacobs says it's that unpredictability that makes young deer especially dangerous along this stretch.
"Highway 29 has those ditches that are deep, that allow deer to come in from the woods that you don't always see," says Jacobs, "and, the woods tend to come up right next to the roads."
Last year, more than half of all reported crashes in Door, Kewaunee, Shawano, and Waupaca counties involved deer. And Jacobs says summer speeds make those crashes worse.
"When the summer starts, the speed increases," says Jacobs. "With the increase in speed, it's going to be more damage to your vehicle when you do hit those deer."
That's why Jacobs says slow down, especially at night, and don't drive distracted.
"Putting down that cell phone, not looking at the radio," lists Jacobs, "keeping your eyes on the road."
And if you do hit a deer, experts warn: call 911, stay in your car, so you don't get hit by traffic.
And never approach an injured deer if it's still alive, because one kick from its back legs could seriously injure you.
WisDOT offers the following advice to avoid deer crashes:
· Be vigilant in early morning and evening hours, the most active time for deer.
· Eliminate distractions while driving and slow down.
· Always wear your safety belt—there are fewer and less severe injuries in crashes when safety belts are worn.
· If you see a deer by the side of the road, slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten the deer away.
· When you see one deer, look for another one—deer seldom run alone.
· If you find a deer looming in your headlights, don't expect the deer to move away.
o Headlights can confuse a deer and cause the animal to freeze.
o Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path.
· Do not swerve. It can confuse the deer as to where to run.
o It can also cause you to lose control and hit a tree or another car.
o The one exception is if you are riding a motorcycle. In this case, you should slow down, brake firmly and then swerve if you need to in order to avoid hitting the deer. When swerving on a motorcycle, always try to stay within the lane if at all possible to avoid hitting other objects.
· If your vehicle strikes a deer, stay in your vehicle and do not touch the animal if it is still alive.
o The injured deer, while attempting to move, could hurt you or itself.
o Walking or stopping on the highway is very dangerous—you could be hit by an oncoming vehicle if you get out of your car.
o The best advice is to get your car off the road if possible, and call law enforcement.
