If you have lived in the Flint Hills for at least one fall season, you know what the words “peak deer season” mean.
To Lyon County Undersheriff John Koelsch, those three words mean one thing: deer are active…
…and as a result, drivers need to have their heads on swivels for the next few months.
Since July 1, there have been over 20 vehicle-deer collisions in Lyon County. There were nearly 10 of those in a one-week stretch recently. Deer-vehicle collisions are generally thought of as rural incidents, but Koelsch says that isn’t always the case.
The time period between Oct. 1 and New Year’s Eve typically sees more crashes than any other time of year — and November is usually the worst due to mating season, when deer are more active and less attentive to their surroundings. The return of standard time doesn’t help because evening commutes from work happen at dusk, one of the peak activity times for deer.
Besides increasing awareness at dawn and dusk, drivers are told to expect several deer when one is visible. Drivers should also reduce speeds near wooded areas, fields, creeks and ponds. Never swerve to avoid deer because of the potential for losing control of the vehicle.
