MIDDLETON, Wis. — Car versus deer crashes are already on the rise in Wisconsin.
Early data from the state Department of Transportation shows there have already been over 11,000 crashes in the state this year.
James Anderberg, the director of Ball Body shop in Middleton, is seeing evidence of this already. He said his shop is seeing an uptick in deer-damaged vehicles.
“10 to 15 % of what we have in here currently is deer related collisions, and there’s no shortage of them,” he said. “They will continue coming in for the next month or so.”
The cost to drivers who hit deer is increasing too. Anderberg said the price depends on the value of the car.
“They can be as little as $2,000 dollars,” he said. “I want to say the highest I’ve seen is $35,000.”
But deer activity isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Mating season lasts from October through December in Wisconsin, bringing deer out and around the roads in full force.
“We see an uptick in animal behavior the hour before and the hour after sunrise and sunset,” said Deputy Steven Mueller with the Dane County Sheriff’s Office. “So that stays consistent.”
What doesn’t stay consistent is the amount of daylight drivers have during their commute. That’s why Deputy Mueller said it’s important to stay vigilant.
“Be looking out ahead,” he said. “Use the headlights of the car ahead of you if you’re behind traffic and just be aware of what’s going on on the highway.”
No matter how vigilant you are, deer move fast, forcing drivers to make split-second decisions. When a deer enters the road in front of you, Deputy Mueller said the biggest mistake you can make is swerving to avoid it.
“Hitting a deer is often the least harmful event or option that a driver has,” he said. “Apply proper braking and do your best to avoid it without hitting anything else.”
There are preventative measures you can take to ease the pain of a crash. Anderberg recommends having a comprehensive car insurance plan to help lower costs and keep your car well maintained.
“Make sure your headlamps are working at all times. Make sure all safety systems are up to snuff and clean,” he said. “Bugs, debris, things like that can hamper the safety systems on your vehicle and slow them down or make them inoperable.”
