Deer Activity Spikes On Roads As Mating Season Hits

Have you ever hit a deer with your vehicle? I have, and it totaled mine. Here's a head's up for you if you drive near dusk or dawn - Watch out for horny deer, they're a bit crazed at this moment.

Late October/early November is the peak of the White-tailed Deer mating/rutting season here in Connecticut, and I've almost hit a deer on my way into work along 202 from Torrington to Brookfield every day this week. This morning I almost whacked into one near the White Horse in New Preston, it scared the hell out of me.

Why are There So Many Deer Wandering the Streets of Connecticut?

It's mating season, the rut, for white-tailed deer, from a couple of weeks ago all the way until January. Thousands of white-tailed deer are wandering far from their usual hangouts in hopes of meeting that special someone. As humans know, sometimes at 1AM desperation sets in, and we can make a bad choice. That's why a deer may suddenly run across the road into the path of your vehicle. I can tell you from experience that hitting a deer at 40MPH does bad things.

According to ct.gov, male white-tailed deer can weigh up to 150 pounds, while females can get to around 110 pounds. Following this rutting season, females will give birth to 1-4 fawns, who will enter this part of the world with few natural predators. Unregulated deer populations can double in size in just two years, so honestly thank your local hunters for helping our vehicles stay intact.