Hitting a deer with an automobile is no laughing matter. Serious injury could result. According to the latest talking points at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife(MDIFW), the deer population in Maine has “rebounded” to somewhere considerably below long-term averages. However, MDIFW is so proud of what “global warming” has done for them they can’t help themselves but to brag about it.
But now, the media, MDIFW’s parroting company, appears to be the town crier extolling the dangers of too many deer, or at least a bigger deer herd and that deer and auto collisions are on the rise.
It is that time of year when male whitetail deer have uncontrolled sex on their minds, and for those who know and us that try to remember, when the brain is focused on such activities, the result oftentimes can get a man or a deer into trouble. Deer are most active during the rut and as a result the mixture of active deer and busy highways sometimes result in crashes. By the way, the rut is in full swing right now.
According to one article in the Bangor Daily News, the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning to drivers about deer on the loose. 43 collisions with deer have occurred in 30 days in Waldo County and the sheriff wants people to know about it and to slow down and drive defensively. Good advice!
In the same newspaper, another article blames the increase in deer collisions on, “a rebounding population of white-tailed deer in the last couple of years.” That may be true (or perhaps those evil bear baiters are dumping deer Viagra in their bait piles causing deer to …… well, you get the idea.).
There is a very big HOWEVER that goes with this second article and, well, I just can’t help myself. The only thing I’ve ever heard so ridiculous and somewhat relevant was when my son, who at the time might have been 5 or 6 years old, reacted to my order for him to buckle up his seat belt. His reply was, “I will. When I see that we are going to get into an accident, I’ll buckle up.”
Here are the exact words written in the Bangor Daily News article.
The Maine DOT encourages drivers to be especially alert at night, while driving through forested or rural areas and when they see one deer, which is likely to be followed by others. If a crash is unavoidable, drivers should brake, then let up on the brake just before impact. They should aim to hit the tail end of the animal and, if possible, duck to minimize injury in case the deer strike the windshield.(emphasis added)
As the saying goes, you can’t make this stuff up. I have but one comment and I’ll leave the rest to readers: If there is time to do all of this, wouldn’t the collision become avoidable?
