Deer on the Move, Authorities Warn

SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. -- Bucks County motorists have a 1-in-59 chance of a vehicular accident involving a big game animal like a deer, warns the Pennsylvania Game Commission, noting the risk is strong now with the end of Daylight Savings Time and the start of the deer “rut” season.

“Slow down and stay alert,” was the cautionary it issued.

Deer become more active in autumn with the lead-up to their fall breeding season, more commonly referred to as the “rut,” according to Travis Lau, spokesman, state Game Commission.

Added Lau: “Around this time, many yearling bucks disperse from the areas in which they were born and travel, sometimes several dozen miles, to find new ranges. Meanwhile, adult bucks are cruising their home ranges in search of does, and they sometimes chase the does they encounter.”

He said heightened deer movement and the end of Daylight Savings Time are a dangerous mix.

“There’s increased vehicular traffic between dusk and dawn – the peak hours for deer activity,” said Lau.

Motorists in Bucks and elsewhere in Pennsylvania should be “on the lookout” for whitetail deer, said state Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans.

“Deer are spending more time on the move and are bound to be crossing roads more often,” he said. “While motorists always should remain alert while driving, it’s especially important now to be on the lookout for whitetails.”

Despite recent grim statistics -- Pennsylvania led the country in animal-collision insurance claims in fiscal year 2022-2023 – drivers can reduce the chances of collisions with deer by “staying alert and better understanding deer behavior,” said Lau.

“Just paying attention while driving on stretches marked with ‘Deer Crossing’ signs can make a difference,” he said.

Deer in Bucks County often travel in groups and walk single file.

“So even if one deer successfully crosses the road in front of a driver, it doesn’t mean the threat is over,” said Lau. “Another could be right behind it.”
A driver who hits a deer with a vehicle is not required to report the accident to the Game Commission.

“If the deer dies, only Pennsylvania residents may claim the carcass,” he said.

Lau also said the Game Commission tells drivers that if a deer is struck but not killed when hit by a vehicle, “drivers are urged to maintain their distance because some deer might recover and move on.”

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Deer crossing sign warns motorists to "look out."Photo byFilip ZrnzevićonUnsplash