Deer increasing around New Jersey as fall months return
Fall is here, and many in New Jersey have noticed an increase of deer in their area.
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Fall is here, and many in New Jersey have noticed an increase of deer in their area.
"I've been seeing a lot more deer on people's yards in the streets, crossing the road here in Westfield, Garwood. There are deer all the time in the neighborhood," says Debbie Close.
"I have seen so many deer on the road. It's ridiculous. A lot of traffic just watching them cross. You definitely should be careful because there was a point I was driving home and a car hit one of the deer," says Al Ferreras.
A good rule of thumb is if you find one, there may be some. Although a deer crash can happen anytime, they're most typical from dusk to dawn October through December.
"It is peak season for deer to be about and about. The times that they are most mobile are between 5-8 a.m. and 5-8 p.m. Peak commuting times. So that's why we are seeing signage on the parkway, on the Turnpike alerting drivers that deer are present," says Tracy Noble, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid Atlantic.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection says there are over 15,000 deer-to-vehicle accidents every year. Experts say those crashes can cause anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 in damage to your vehicle.
