According
to AAA, there were 34,081 animal crashes in New
York last year, 117 more than the prior year – with Suffolk County
leading the state for the most deer-related crashes.
County
data shows there were 1,368 crashes last year. The
towns of Brookhaven, Southold and Southampton led Suffolk with 440, 208 and 186
respectively.
Brookhaven led Suffolk in injury crashes with 47. The Town of
Babylon had an animal crash that killed a vehicle occupant.
According to officials, all Suffolk animal crashes resulted in
property damage often costing thousands of dollars; 9% also involved vehicle
occupant injuries.
Meanwhile, Nassau County had 120 animal crashes, 19 with
injuries last year.
The five boroughs of New York City were the bottom five counties
in animal crashes.
AAA says mid-October to early December is deer mating or rutting
season. During rutting, bucks become more active in daylight and prone to
moving to open areas, like roads.
“Drivers should never swerve to avoid any animal, especially on
country roads,” said Robert Sinclair Jr., of AAA Northeast.