BELLINGHAM, WA – Slow down and look while driving during the holidays.
November is peak mating season for deer, and the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife wants drivers to watch out while on the road.
Deer species in Washington migrate from high altitudes to lower elevations during this time, which can lead to more road crossings.
According to data collected over the last 50 years by WSDOT, there is a minimum of 5,000 collisions with deer and 200 with elk each year.
High rates of collisions have been documented on Whidbey Island and State Routes 20 and 525.
To prevent hitting wildlife, WSDOT recommends treating deer like merging traffic, and know that if you see one deer, more are close behind.
If you do end up killing a deer, move the carcass off the road if it is safe, and report the collision to an authority.
For more information about wildlife and human activity interactions, WDFW released this video.
To look at the data collected by WSDOT, visit their website.
