Annual Antler Alert is underway

If you mainly drive late at night or in the early morning, you may have noticed an increase in deer.

According to Thruway Director Thomas Madison, thsi year's mild winter has increased the deer population along the highway's shoulders.

When you see a deer crossing sign on the side of the road, use caution.

Those are the areas that are known to have frequent deer crossings.

Here are some tips on how you can avoid hitting a deer:

-Be more aware of deer throughout May/June and October/November
-Deer are the most energetic at dawn and dusk
-Scan shoulders of the roadside for deer eyes reflecting the light
-Do not rely on high beams or honking your horn to warn deer
-Slow down when apporoaching deer standing at the roadside, they may run into oncoming traffic
-Deer often use woodlots, fencecrows, field edges or areas near water. Extra caution is needed when these habitats are close to the Thruway.
-Deer frequently travel in groups. When there is one, there may be more.
-Always buckle your seat belt. Ejection from a vehicle is the main reason that fatalities occur in a collision.
-If a collision is unavoidable, hold onto the steering wheel; do not swerve to avoid hitting the deer. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop. the most serious vehicle versus deer accidents occur when drivers swerve at high speeds to elude a deer, and then strike another vehicle, a tree or roll over.
-If you are involved in a vehicle versus deer collision, do not attempt to approach or touch the deer.