Stay Alert! Penobscot County Sheriffs Warn Of Increase In Motor Vehicle Crashes Involving Deer In The Area

It's something most Mainers or driving age have in the back of their minds all of the time....or at least they should; Wildlife in the roadway.

Especially in the fall, when daylight is less plentiful and animals are on the move because of the upcoming winter and hunting season.

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From the major highways to the lesser known back roads, there's not a road in the Pine Tree state that hasn't seen it's fair share of roadkill. While squirrels, raccoons and porcupines can cause minor damage to your vehicle upon impact, the likelihood of injuries and/ or crashes certainly increase with the size of the wildlife drivers encounter on Maine roads.

For animals like deer, moose and bear (even coyotes), a crash involving large mammals is always more dangerous.

Read More: Authorities Say A Deer Is To Blame For A 3 Car Crash on Turnpike

That's why the Penobscot County Sheriff's Office is asking motorists to be vigilant this time of year, as there's been an increase in crashes involving deer in particular, in this county. And that has them concerned. They actually issued a statement over the weekend warning folks to keep an eye out for the animals.

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"The sheriff's office issues a warning regarding the high number of vehicle versus deer traffic collisions across the county. The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office has responded to a high number of traffic crashes involving vehicles versus deer over the past several weeks...It is important to remember not to swerve to avoid a collision with an animal, but to apply the brakes in a manner to avoid the collision".

According to the Maine Department of Transportation, so far this year there have been 4,616 crashes involving deer on Maine roadways. Just this month 510 deer related crashes have been reported, statewide. Last month there were 609. The month with the most activity, so far, was June, with 753 collisions.

Most collisions have taken place between 4 to 8 AM and 7 to 11 PM, just before dawn and right after dusk.

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Authorities say there are a few things you can do to minimize your risk of hitting a deer this season, and they include things like scanning the road, utilizing your vehicle's high beams, staying alert (distraction-free) especially during those peak hours of dusk and dawn, and slowing down.

They also recommend wearing a seatbelt to help lessen the potential for injuries, should you find yourself in a collision situation.

Read More: Deer Season in Maine Can You Legally Keep & Eat a Deer You Hit

If you do hit a deer, they say to pull your car to a safe place, if that's possible, and to stay in your vehicle while you call for help. Even if the animal is injured, and not yet deceased, they warn against trying to help it, and say, instead, to stay away from the deer.