Deer and cars don't mix

Deer and cars don't mix
Last year, 210 people were killed in the U.S. as a result of collisions with animals, and more than 75 percent of those involved deer, says a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Nearly two-thirds of annual vehicle-deer collisions occur between October and December, according to the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation.
Some tips to help you avoid
a collision with a deer:
- Use caution when driving during dawn, dusk, or the first few hours of darkness. Most collisions occur during these times.
- Slow down if you see a deer standing near the road. It may bolt onto the road.
- Be alert if you see one deer cross the road; there may be more following.
- Be alert when driving through deer crossing "hot spots," which are usually marked with road signs.
- Never swerve to avoid a deer. Just use your brakes.
- If a deer "freezes" in your headlights, turn them off and then on.

If you do hit a deer:
Do you have to report it?
No, unless it's blocking the road; then call authorities.
What if it's only injured?
Do not approach or touch it. Flailing hooves are dangerous. Call the authorities.
Can you keep it?
Yes. Call your local police agency to get a possession tag.