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You Might Be Surprised ...

By Sarah Cooper

Services for Real Estate Pros with Real Estate Shows

October 24, 2007 09:33 PM

poster

You might be surprised to learn that the most dangerous animal in West Virginia is our deer.

If you live in West Virginia, you are more likely than anyone else in the country to have a car accident that involves a deer. In fact, according to State Farm, you have a 1 in 57 chance of hitting a deer THIS YEAR.

Bambi's out to get us.

The average car/deer accident causes about $3,000 worth of damage to the car. Of course the deer aren't crazy about it either, and these accidents cause 150 deaths across the country each year.

The most dangerous months for these types of accidents are through the months of October, November and December. Be careful out there!

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Mike Mueller

Tech and Social Media Consultant - Walnut Creek, CA

I've been intimate with Bambi twice now. Both times on two wheels. The last time was last April.

a Doe Ray'd Me!

Even if you see them in plenty of time, even if they look to be not concerned with you, there is always a good chance they can change their mind in a flash. In their eyes, when you go from object to predator their escape tactic changes. The escape rout is to almost always pass in front of you. It's a deer survival skill that works great with mountain lions, but doesn't match up well with vehicles.

One of the strangest things I almost hit was a real Texas Longhorn in the middle of the desert.

I'd rather hit one of these...

than one of these... anyday!

Be careful out there.

Mike "Cooper says I'm HOT" Mueller

Oct 25, 2007 12:54 AM

Thomas Weiss

Thomas R. Weiss - West Palm Beach, FL

Sarah,

I heard that Too!! Although they taste Great!! :0) JK...

Tom Weiss

Oct 25, 2007 01:38 AM

Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

We've got a gigantic deer population in Rock Creek Park, which runs through the middle of Washington, DC. I live off 16th Street, which is a major traffic corridor running from the White House north into Maryland, and I've seen them on 17th Street. That's getting a little far from the park. I guess the shrubs are juicier. Bambi's a frickin' menace!

Just imagine how scary it is when you're innocently walking your hyper-active-Labradoodle puppy and run into this!

It really happened. I always have my point and shoot in my pocket.

Oct 25, 2007 01:39 AM

Eric Kodner

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Twin Cities Homes - Minnetonka, MN

Wayzata Lakes Realty: Twin Cities, Madeline Island

Pat, if you bag one while walking your Labradoodle, sent me a photo!

Hey, you can fill your freezer for the winter..venison sausage is pretty good stuff.

Oct 25, 2007 01:51 AM

Desiree Daniels

RE/MAX Tri County - Robbinsville, NJ

Posted by Sarah Cooper, Realtor, Hurricane, WV on 10/25/2007 04:33 AM !!!!!!

::::shaking head::::

Oct 25, 2007 02:00 AM

Thomas Weiss

Thomas R. Weiss - West Palm Beach, FL

Eric Knows Venison!!! Good Deal :0)

Tom Weiss

Oct 25, 2007 02:06 AM

Rich Jacobson

Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA

Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker

Oh, Deer! Actually, I've found that hitting Bambi is a great means of tenderizing the meat before cooking. Makes great jerky too...

Oct 25, 2007 02:15 AM

Kelly McDonald

Lagrange, KY

Kentucky is bad with Deer too. I-71 is the worst because in the middle of the interstate is a densely wooded area where there are swarms of them. It's crazy! I hate driving that stretch of road at night because they're right up against the road grazing.

Oct 25, 2007 02:17 AM

Scott Geary

Infinity Home Mortgage Company Inc - Allentown, PA

Your Pennsylvania Mortgage Source

Deer are a danger here in PA as well. Back when I was younger, around 21, I hit a dear on RT 22. I was really upset for the deer, me and my car. The deer was dead, my car was totaled, and unfortunately it happened on the last day of being on high risk insurance. RATZ! Have been cautious about deers running ever since! Thanks for the reminder!

Oct 25, 2007 02:28 AM

Robert Monk

100% Realty, Inc. - Santa Rosa Beach, FL

Florida Real Estate

Deer in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

I lived in Washington, DC, for a few years and traveled to Virginia Beach and Charlottesville frequently. You are so right! Deer in you headlights is bad news. And it's the second one that gets you. The first one jumps out of the way, the second one jumps onto your hood.

Oct 25, 2007 02:32 AM

Lysa Napolitano

Daytona Beach, FL

Sarah, The deer in Key West can really be a problem. The Key Deer are so tiny you may not even see them...

Oct 25, 2007 02:47 AM

Prudential Preferred Realty Butler PA

Prudential Preferred Realty - Butler, PA

I am across the state line from Sarah, and we have WAY too many deer!

I live 20 miles from work, and there are ELEVEN dead deer along the road today.

Deer season opens the Monday after Thanksgiving. That makes for a DIFFERENT problem (crazy hunters).

Oct 25, 2007 04:13 AM

Ralph Nudi

Epique Realty - Cape Coral, FL

"Get Nudi and Get Into Your Dream Home"

Sarah - Perhaps WV needs a longer or and additional hunting seasion. Wisconsin has done this in the past when the herd gets too big

p.s. - you never visit my BLOG anymore... perhaps I stayed off the rain too long... out of site... out of mind? I sure could use your STAR POWER!

Oct 25, 2007 05:03 AM

Tom Burris

NMLS# 335055 - Baton Rouge, LA

Texas/Louisiana Mortgage Pro - 13 YRS Experience

They can total a car.... and hurt you badly.

I have seen deer fences placed by the state in bad places. I think it was in Louisiana

Oct 25, 2007 05:44 AM

Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI

(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

I heard that a lot of deaths occur due to deer "hitting" the car. I guess the car is stopped at that point...and occupants flown...

Poor things...do they not get out of the way for cars? They must not know.

Oct 25, 2007 06:58 AM

Laurie Mindnich

Centennial, CO

Sarah, the first rule that I learned here is that, if you see one deer, the entire herd could be behind them. One crosses, the others hesitate, then BOOM- they they are. I go 15MPH at dusk- I haven't hit one yet, which is lucky- loads of squished squirrels keep me totally preoccupied. Little things getting nuts. People behind me must think I'm crazy, but I just can't hit ANYTHING.

Oct 25, 2007 10:45 AM

Amber Bourland

Ozarks' Independent Realty - West Plains, MO

In the Ozarks, the deer are plentiful, too, and VERY active this time of year. It's bow-hunting season, so hunters in the woods tend to scare the deer out of the woods. It gets worse when firearms season starts, but I will be out in the woods working on getting venison in the freezer for winter!

i had a deer run into the side of my car once. It caused $2200 damage, but the bad thing is that I couldn't make the insurance company understand what happened. No matter how many times I explained, they kept saying ' Okay, so you hit an animal..." Once I got through to them that THE ANIMAL HIT ME, it went okay, but it took nearly an hour on the phone with 4-5 different reps to make them understand that. The bad part is that I was on my way to work and couldn;t get the deer cleaned, so it was a waste of good meat!

Oct 25, 2007 04:01 PM

Roberta LaRocca

Simply Vegas Real Estate - Las Vegas, NV

REALTOR®, Broker, Salesperson, NV. Lic BS.507

Sarah, No surprise to me! When I lived in PA, I had some close calls with deer crossing in front of my car. I knew quite a few people who weren't as lucky as me!

Oct 25, 2007 05:38 PM

Dawn DeGroff

Fredericksburg Realty, Inc - Fredericksburg, VA

Doesn't WV have a newer law that makes it legal for you to pick up / eat "roadkill"? Or was that a joke? If they do at least you wont see a bunch on the side of the road.

Oct 26, 2007 02:27 AM

Matthew Rosov

Amerisave Mortgage Corporation - Laurel, MD

Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist

I knew it! They may look cute but they are actually devils on 4 legs and liitle doe eyes!

For some reason when I thought of little doe eyes I recalled that one scene from My Cousin Vinny when the heroine is talking about does and a big hunter killing them. funny movie.

Oct 26, 2007 07:17 AM