In what has become an annual occurrence, the Eastman region had the highest number of collisions involving vehicle and deer in the last year.

Brian Smiley with Manitoba Public Insurance says there were 1,630 vehicle-deer collisions in the Eastman region, compared to 1,455 in the Westman region, 1,115 in the Interlake, 630 in the Pembina Valley and 625 in Winnipeg.

Smiley says this is the worst time of year for these type of collisions.

"October and November are the two worst months of the year," notes Smiley. "It's rutting season for the animals, they are moving from territory to territory."

Smiley urges motorists to drive with caution and suggests asking passengers to be on the lookout for deer on the side of the road. He says animals are normally more active at dawn, dusk and at night. Smiley says extra caution is needed where brush and tall grass grow near the road.

"If you encounter an animal, whether it be a deer or anything else, stay in your lane," suggests Smiley. "Apply the brakes, drive through the animal, you do not want to swerve, you do not want to go into oncoming traffic."

According to MPI, about 350 people are injured each year in wildlife-related collisions. In the last decade, seven people in this province have been killed in crashes caused by an animal on a road. Overall, Manitobans are involved in about 11,000 vehicle-wildlife collisions yearly.

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