Sheriff Warns: Watch Out for Deer on Roadways

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office reminds drivers that it is the time of the year to be alert to deer crossing the roadway throughout DeKalb County. Deer may appear anywhere in the county in and around towns, and in the rural farmland and open areas of the County.

The fall season is one of the two most frequent periods of deer/vehicle accidents. This is the mating season know as “rut” and in addition the fall harvest causes increased deer movement. Last year approximately 100 deer related accidents were handled by the Sheriff’s Office which was approximately 12% of the total accidents handled by sheriff’s deputies in 2015.

The most critical times of the day when deer/vehicle accidents occur is during dusk – early evening and at pre-dawn. However deer can appear any time on any highway. Although deer related accidents can happen anywhere, most common areas for deer related accidents are near woods, farm fields and waterways throughout Northern Illinois.

All drivers should pay attention to some basic safety rules when traveling County and State roads in DeKalb County. The list below regarding safety rules was taken from the Wisconsin Sportsman Magazine:

BASIC SAFETY RULES

• Pay attention to deer crossing signs.
• Be especially alert for deer when traveling at dawn and dusk.
• Drive with your high beams on as much as possible without impairing other driver’s vision. Your first indication of danger often is the dull glow of a deer’s eyes. Deer may be seen as a ghostly presence in your headlights. High beams help. Modern quartz-halogen headlamps are more effective than the old sealed beams.
• When you have seen a deer or two, reduce your speed considerably. If one deer is out along the roads, you can assume more are out there too.
• Be especially careful when approaching a deer. Reduce your speed and watch that deer’s behavior, even if it seems unconcerned. If it is safe to do so, drift to the center of the highway, or stop to give yourself more room and time to determine if that deer (or another deer unseen nearby) leaps in front of you.
• Watch out for a second and third deer. Many near misses come when a driver concentrates on a deer that crosses in front of him and does not see the second or third deer that often follow.
• If you suddenly find yourself facing an accident you can’t avoid, keep cool and maintain control of your vehicle. Never let your concern for the deer put human lives in danger. Few deer collisions are fatal to the occupants of the car, but if you swerve at high speeds you easily could cause a fatal accident.

WHAT TO DO
If involved in an accident with a deer:

• Contact local law enforcement if there is personal injury to occupants of vehicle. Accident reports are required to be reported to police if there is $1500.00 or more in property damage.
• Do not attempt to remove deer from busy highway, but notify local law enforcement of its presence if it is a hazard.
• The driver involved in the accident may take possession of the deer. However, if they do not want to do this, any Illinois resident may take possession of the deer. Taking possession does not require a report unless it is taken to a taxidermist or tannery, then a call to IL Dept. of Natural Resources is required before delivery. Phone # 217-782-6431.
• If anyone claims the deer they must keep record of date/time/location of accident and current location of deer. This record must be kept until deer is consumed, or no longer in individual possession.

DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott