HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It’s that time of year when the reports of deer-vehicle crashes occur. The Reno County Sheriff’s Office has taken several reports in the past week of residents striking deer with vehicles. Luckily, no injuries were reported with any of those crashes.

Mating season and the quest for more secure habitat have deer on the move this time of year, increasing the chances of these types of collisions.

“Wet weather this year may cause some deer to cross roads in new places and the additional vegetation growth could make deer harder to see until they are in the road. The approaching breeding season increases deer movement, and the cooler weather, along with young deer dispersing to find new home ranges, mean more deer may be crossing the roads,” Levi Jaster, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism big game coordinator, said.

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, 10,734 — 16.5% — of the 64,933 vehicle crashes reported in 2018 were deer-related, crashes in which a deer and vehicle actually collided, or the presence of a deer was a contributing circumstance. Although crashes involving deer occur throughout the year in every Kansas county, the highest number of crashes typically occur where there are the most vehicles. Sedgwick County had 418 deer-vehicle crashes reported in 2018, the most of any county, while Butler County followed with 384 reported deer-vehicle crashes.

“In addition to potentially causing human injuries and loss of life, deer collisions often cause significant vehicle damage that can lead to large expenses for the vehicle owner if not properly insured,” Shawn Steward, public and government affairs manager for AAA Kansas, said. “Of the animal strikes reported by AAA insurance policy holders during the five year period between 2014 and 2018, the average cost per claim was nearly $4,300.”

Typically, the greatest number of deer-vehicle crashes are in mid-November when the rut, or mating season, peaks. In addition to the rut, deer are also on the move in mid-fall seeking new food sources and shelter as crops are harvested and leaves fall from trees and shrubs, leaving them less secure than in their summer habitats, according to officials with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.

Law enforcement is urging caution for drivers to refrain from making exaggerated maneuvers to avoid a deer in the road, which could make a bad situation become even worse. Authorities suggest hitting the animal and not swerving to avoid it.

The most likely times when such crashes can occur are at dusk and dawn.