Pennsylvania's deer population has held steady for several years. So why does it feel like the deer are everywhere, including Bucks County, right now?
Despite a stable rate overall, there may be growing deer populations in more developed areas, said David Stainbrook of the state game commission. Fewer hunting spots in suburban centers means less of the data that the agency uses to estimate deer numbers.
But Stainbrook suggested a different reason for more visible deer: they're hungry.
The Philadelphia area has been relatively dry since April. The U.S. Drought Monitor currently rates the lower portions of Bucks and Montgomery counties as "abnormally dry," just a step below drought.
Deer rely on tender greens and flowering plants for a large part of their spring diets, according to the National Deer Association, a sustainble hunting advocacy group. Abnormally dry conditions stunt and wilt the plants that deer eat. And with less food available, deer may have to travel further to find it.
"The weather could be influencing sighting rates if deer need to venture closer to homes for food sources they would typically not need to go [to]," Stainbrook said.
The local deer habitat is also gradually shrinking. Southeastern Pennsylvania lost 2% of its forest land between 2014 and 2019.
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More deer near homes could also mean more collisions. The number of deer-related crashes in Pennsylvania typically varies 2-3% from year to year. But in 2023, deer-related incidents jumped nearly 8% from the previous year, PennDOT data shows.
A 2023 analysis by State Farm Insurance Co. found that Pennsylvanians file more insurance claims for animal-related collisions than any other state.
Drivers should not swerve to avoid deer, Stainbrook said. "Hitting the deer is much safer than hitting a tree, telephone pole, or oncoming vehicle. And deer can move out of the way."
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