As fall sets in, MDOT advises motorists to be on the lookout for deer crossing roadways

As fall sets in, MDOT advises motorists.

Key points

• Counties with the highest prevalence of vehicle collisions involving deer over the last decade are Madison County with 2, 437 collisions and Desoto County with 2, 341 collisions.
• In 2025, MDOT received reports of more than 4, 000 instances of vehicles colliding with deer, reflecting a 6% growth from the previous year.
• Special elections to be held Tuesday in Mississippi House Districts 70 and 77.
• According to a two-decade study by State Farm, Mississippi ranks seventh for that risk, equating to a 1 in 81 likelihood of a motorist striking an animal.
• Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith visited with Magnolia Tribune in July for her first comprehensive interview in the midterm election cycle.

As fall sets in, MDOT advises motorists to be on the lookout for deer crossing roadways. By: Jeremy Pittari – October 30, 2026.

"Collisions with deer can be life threatening and make for costly repairs on a vehicle, " remarked MDOT Executive Director Brad White.

Mississippi is ranked in the top ten nationwide for the potential risk of vehicle collisions with animals.

As the cooler months arrive in the state, deer are more active, increasing the risk of vehicle collisions.

Notably, the Mississippi Department of Transportation notes deer are most prevalent between October and January, but they are known to cross the path of vehicles year-round.

Meanwhile, the State Farm study indicated that from July 2025 to June 30 of this year, the insurance agency received 1.6 million claims of damage caused by a vehicle versus animal collision.

Collisions with larger animals such as deer can result in major injury or even death. In 2024, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety documented 210 deaths occurred as of vehicle collisions with animals.

As fall sets in in Mississippi, MDOT is reminding motorists that deer activity is increasing.

"Deer are everywhere in Mississippi, which means we should always keep our guard up, especially during this time of year, " MDOT Executive Director Brad White remarked. "Collisions with deer can be life threatening and make for costly repairs on a vehicle."

Deer are usually more active during the early morning and evening hours, with regarding 20% of all deer-related crashes occurring in the morning, and more than 50% taking place between 5 p.m. And midnight. Since deer travel in herds, the presence of one deer on the side of the road typically indicates the presence of extra deer in the area.

MDOT suggests scanning the edges of the roadway for the presence of deer to determine a plan of action should one or more dart in the path of a vehicle.

Motorists can employ the reflection of light from a deer's eyes to detect them from a distance. It is suggested to employ high beams when there is no oncoming traffic, and ensure headlights are functional, correctly aligned and clean for the best visibility.

Should a deer cross the path of a vehicle, drivers should not panic and instead brake firmly and keep the steering wheel straight. Swerving to avoid a collision with an animal creates the potential of the driver losing control of the vehicle, potentially creating a more severe incident.

"Deer are unpredictable animals, especially when startled, " White continued. "We encourage drivers to remain alert in morning and dusk hours when deer tend to be more active, especially near roadways. Motorists should additionally avoid distractions and always wear a seat belt." Concerning the Author(s).

Jeremy Pittari is a lifelong resident of the Gulf Coast. Born and raised in Slidell, La., he moved to South Mississippi in the early 90s. Jeremy earned an associate in arts from Pearl River Community College and went on to attend the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned a bachelor's of arts in journalism. A week after Hurricane Katrina, he began an internship as a reporter with the community newspaper in Pearl River County. After graduation, he accepted a full-time position at that news outlet where he covered the recovery process post Katrina in Pearl River and Hancock Counties. For almost 17 years he wrote concerning local administration, education, law enforcement, crime, business and a variety of other topics. Email Jeremy: [email protected].

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For now, as fall sets in, MDOT advises motorists to be on the lookout remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.