Deer-vehicle collisions have risen by 9% in Illinois and state officials are warning drivers that autumn is the busiest season for these crashes as deer seek mates and food.

The Illinois Department of Transportation reports on its web site that 25,660 deer-vehicle accidents were reported last year, up from 23,645 the year before. Deer-vehicle collisions has risen in five of the last six years, the agency reports.
“Collisions between vehicles and deer occur throughout the year, but deer are more active during the fall and motorists on country roads, interstate highways and even urban thoroughfares need to be on the lookout,” said Joel Brunsvold, director of DNR.
The Insurance Information Institute estimates there are 500,000 collisions each year with deer alone, each costing the insurance industry approximately $2,000 per claim or $1 billion annually. And deer are part of the problem.
According to the Maine Department of Transportation, more than 700 crashes with moose occur each year in the state, resulting in fatalities and injuries.
“With moose weighing up to 1,500 pounds and 10 feet tall, collisions often knock their thin legs out and cause the moose to crush a vehicle's passenger compartment,” the department warns in an online message.