MOTORISTS SHOULD NOTE THAT DEER ARE ALSO ON THE MOVE

JEFFERSON CITY -- The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds motorists that deer are on the move. Drivers should be especially alert for deer on roadways early and late in the day.

Be aware of what's out there in front of you while driving, says Conservation Department Wildlife Research Biologist Jeff Beringer. Scan the roadsides. If you see a deer, get ready to see more. There may be a buck chasing a doe or a family group of deer. Some bold deer jump into the road ahead of others, while others lag behind the main group.

Accidents involving deer and automobiles had been declining in Missouri. The figure for 1987 was 9,378 accidents. That figure dropped to 7,663 in 1995. But 1996 saw a 15 percent jump in accidents to a total of 8,827 collisions.

There are more collisions this time of year because of deer breeding activity, says Beringer. Deer courtship involves bucks chasing does, testing if they are receptive to breeding. They go long distances while doing this and often cross busy roads.

Beringer says young deer also are on the move now, because they are leaving family groups and trying to establish their own home ranges. Increased activity by these deer make them candidates for auto collisions. They travel a lot and have a high mortality, Beringer says.

Deer population densities in Missouri average about 12 deer per square mile. Urban areas, such as Jefferson, St. Louis and Jackson counties, have high deer densities and the highest rates of auto-deer accidents in the state. Many of the deer in these counties live in undeveloped habitat near highways, places where there are lots of roads and heavy traffic, Beringer adds. In a recent year, 300 Missourians were injured in collisions with deer; nationally about 100 people a year are killed in car-deer collisions.

The Conservation Department is conducting a study of deer in St. Louis County to learn more about deer in urban areas. Special archery hunting seasons are helping to reduce urban deer numbers near Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis.

Safety tips for drivers from the Conservation Department include extra vigilance early and late in the day, taking extra care when driving through wooded areas or near stream crossings and flashing your lights to scare deer standing on road margins. Motorists must be aware that deer often travel in groups, and that if a collision is imminent, it's better to hit the deer rather than go into a ditch or oncoming traffic.