By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, 37 percent of single-vehicle accidents in the state last year involved a collision with a deer. That number is even higher during the fall season as deer breeding season picks up. Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir said deer activity is already on the rise.
"The other problem that's going on is they're cutting milo and corn right now," he said. "That disturbs their habitat and flushes a lot of them out. Most deer strikes occur during the early morning hours or early evening. Dawn and dusk, it seems like that's when we get a lot of them struck."
Deer rarely travel alone, so drivers who see one deer should be on the lookout for more. Drivers should reduce speeds near wooded areas or green spaces, or near water sources where deer are most active. Using bright lights when possible will help drivers see the reflective eyes of deer. The biggest tip officials offer each year is to never swerve to avoid a deer.
"It's your natural instinct to try and steer around them but you may steer into oncoming traffic," said Bellendir. "You could run off into the ditch and strike a driveway or solid object. Most of the time, you just try to brake and get stopped before you hit them."
Shawn Steward, public and government affairs manager with AAA Kansas, said the average vehicle claim involving an animal strike was $7,000 in 2022. Collisions involving deer or other animals with property damage totaling more than $1,000 must immediately be reported to the nearest law enforcement agency.