The annual deer mating season is about to begin, and AAA Oklahoma is urging drivers to be on the lookout for animals on roadways across the state.
The months of October, November and December are when most animal collisions occur in the state. The rutting season for deer generally hits its peak in Oklahoma in early-to-mid-November.
Over the last two decades, an average of 110 Oklahomans have been killed or injured annually in collisions involving deer. Collisions have been trending higher in recent years as urban growth has driven deer into more populated regions.
AAA spokesman Chuck Mai says motorists need to be extra alert on Oklahoma roadways, especially in rural and wooded areas. Mai says rush hours are also high risk times because that's when deer are most active.