Report: Minnesota drivers more likely to hit deer this year
(KMSP) - This year, Minnesota drivers should be especially cautious of deer on the roads.
According to a report by State Farm Insurance, Minnesota placed seventh out of the 50 states where drivers are most likely to hit deer.
Wisconsin is number six, South Dakota is number five, and North Dakota is number 11.
This ranking means that Minnesota drivers have a one-in-80 chance of hitting a deer this year, or about 42,207 incidents over the next 12 months.
West Virginia drivers face the nation's highest odds of having a vehicle-deer collision at one in 41.
Nationwide, an estimated 1.3 million drivers will submit insurance claims for collisions with big animals, the report said.
The data from State Farm mirrors the slightly higher deer population estimates from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which show Minnesota deer herds rebounding gradually the past two years after tough winters in 2013 and 2014.
Higher risk season is October through December due to deer hunting and mating underway
The national average cost per claim for 2015-16 was $3,995.08, down just slightly from $4,135 in 2014-2015.
According to the report, 191 people died in 2013 as a result of vehicle collisions with animals across the U.S.