Midwest drivers beware: Deer near

Minnesota and neighboring states are among the most likely locations for the dangerous intersection of deer and drivers.

By Paul Walsh and Kevin Duchschere, Star Tribune

Last update: October 24, 2007 - 10:23 PM

Minnesota and neighboring states are among the most likely locations for the dangerous intersection of deer and drivers.

While West Virginia topped the list where drivers are most likely to strike a deer, Minnesota and five other states in the Midwest landed in the top 10, according to a study by an auto insurance company.

The rankings are based on deer claims data from the last half of 2006 and the first half of 2007 from State Farm Insurance, along with motor vehicle registration counts.

Rounding out the top 10: Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Arkansas, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota. At the bottom was Hawaii at 50th and Arizona 49th.

This time of year, through December, is prime time for collisions with deer. That's because it's mating season, and deer are more active.

In the past 10 years, Minnesota has averaged about 5,100 vehicle-deer collisions each year (probably low since many such crashes are never reported), of which nearly 400 annually result in injuries. Since 1995, more than 30 people have been killed in Minnesota in car-deer collisions.

Last year in the state, there were 4,138 deer-vehicle collisions, with 486 people injured, the Department of Public Safety reported. Three people were killed.