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They’re hard to miss.
New Jersey officials are warning commuters to be wary of an increased number of horny deer — as mating season kicks into full swing.
Motorists should expect an increase in white-tailed deer activity in the morning and evenings on roadways “as bucks attempt to court does” during prime season, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection warned Friday.
Known as the “fall rut,” peak mating times for deer in the Garden State continues from mid-to-late October through the middle of December, the agency said.
“Collisions with deer pose a very serious safety threat and can cause significant damage to vehicles and possible loss of life,” Dave Golden, assistant commissioner for NJDEP Fish & Wildlife cautioned.
“It’s especially important that drivers be extra vigilant to this threat and take time to know steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of collision.”
Officials said that visibility issues spying the four-legged bucks on roadways will become more hazardous when daylight savings time ends on Nov. 1.
The time change will see more commuters on the road during peak periods of bucks engaging in raunchy activity — which can significantly increase the risk of car collisions, the department warned.
An estimated 25,000 car accidents involving deer occur every year in New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.
Similarly, an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 accidents are caused by deer each year in the New York, according to the New York State Department of Transportation, which recently launched a new ad campaign to spread awareness.
To stay protected against the sex-charged bucks, officials urge drivers to drive slower, watch for “Deer Crossing” signs and use high beams during dark hours.
The population of white-tailed deer in New Jersey has reached problematic numbers in many suburban areas — with an estimated 100,000 deer roaming throughout the state, Gothamist reported.