Motorists might not think of June as being a high-risk time for running into deer. But, Kevin Baskins, with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says this is one of the more dangerous months of the year for car versus deer collisions.
“This time of the year is the time when last year’s fawns are kind of being pushed away from the mother. These are deer that are kind of finding their own way at this point, they aren’t used to being away from mom, so they sometimes don’t really have their wits about them,” Baskins says.
In addition, Baskins says deer aren’t immune to the thought that the grass might be greener on the other side of the road. “Right now is also the best time for them to eat,” Baskins says. “Everything is budding, there is a lot of green vegetation out there for them to feed on, and a lot of times they want to cross roads to get to what they perceive to be a better place to eat.”
According to Iowa Department of Transportation statistics, most car/deer crashes happen during harvest season in October, November and December. The month of June is usually fourth on the list. Baskins says deer are usually on the move at daybreak and sunset — so those are the times when most crashes occur.
“And sometimes the lighting conditions can be a little more difficult for motorists too. That setting sun and rising sun can create a glare that makes it a little harder to see,” Baskins says. “So, those are times when people want to be more cautious.”