Mating season for white-tailed deer has reached its high point and drivers are being warned to pay extra attention while traveling area roadways. The average date for the peak of the mating season, called the “rut,” is today (Monday), Nov. 13. Carroll County Naturalist, Matt Wetrich, says collisions with deer are much more common this time of year.
Dawn and dusk are the most active times of the day for deer. Wetrich says awareness is the best method to avoid collisions. Deer crossing signs are placed where they are most likely to cross roadways. Slowing down just a few miles per hour and using your high beams as much as possible also plays a major role in reducing deer-related accidents. Wetrich says they most important thing to do when encountering wildlife on the road is to stay calm.
The rut can last all the way through the winter months, making it a dangerous time for drivers. According to State Farm Insurance, about one in 69 Iowa drivers will collide with a deer this year.
