So it’s a time to be extra careful on the highways. I’ve been reading that and writing that for as long as I can remember.
In fact, I read an ODNR press release about that a couple of days ago. But wait — this isn’t fall. It’s early May. Why are they warning motorists about deer in May? I’ve been writing outdoor news for more than 20 years and it’s the first time I have ever seen such warnings in May.
According to Scott Peters, a wildlife management supervisor for Division of Wildlife District 3 in Akron, “As white-tailed does are preparing to give birth to fawns, their year-old offspring are scattering to find their own territories, sometimes entering areas they wouldn’t normally be.
“At night, dispersing deer may wander across roadways and into highly populated areas of the cities and suburbs. As dawn arrives young deer often find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings and then try to find their way back out of town.”
Jamey Emmert of the Akron wildlife office further pointed out that when does prepare to give birth, they often drive off the button bucks, born the previous year. And it’s those deer that are mostly on the move in the spring.
“The does don’t seem to mind the female deer being there, but not the males,” Emmert said. “The males are more aggressive around fawns, so they don’t want them there when the new fawns arrive. You see the same with bears and other animals. The year-old males are striking out on their own.”
She said she sees quite a bit of road-kill deer at this time of year. Perhaps deer-vehicle crashes are more prevalent in highly populated locales like the Cleveland-Akron area, but it can happen anywhere.
The Division of Wildlife has issued the following tips for driving during this time of year:
• Stay alert during peak deer movement periods of dawn and dusk.
• Drive with caution; slow down if you see a deer. One deer often means more.
• Wear your seat belt as required by law and drive at or below the posted speed limit.
• Use high beams when possible for better visibility.
• Pay attention to deer crossing signs. These signs are placed at locations where deer are known to cross frequently.
• Do not swerve to avoid striking a deer. In some cases, swerving can cause a worse accident and endanger other motorists. Maintaining full control of your vehicle is the most important factor for your safety.
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