The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is warning people to be on the lookout for deer when driving during mating season.
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Deer-related crashes are more common this time of year, ODNR said.
People can avoid these crashes by paying extra close attention to their surroundings and traveling at a slower speed, according to Wildlife Management Supervisor ODNR, Brett Eeatty.
“Use your high beams,” Eeatty said, “If you’re in an area that’s known to have high deer populations, be more alert, pay attention to deer crossing signs. They’re usually there for a reason.”
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Deer like to hangout in groups, so if you see one, chances are there is probably more of them, Eeatty said.
Carl’s Body Shop in Dayton has recently had a few people drop off their cars to be repaired after hitting deer, according to the owner of Carl’s Body Shop, Matt Miller.
Not only is it expensive to repair the cars, parts are in high demand and on back-order. Miller said that his shop used to be able to fix repairs in about a week, now it’s been taking around four to five weeks.
“When they shut all these factories down during COVID, they’re having a hard time restocking all the shelves,” Miller said.
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If you happen to hit a deer, it may come as a surprise that you are able to eat it, according to Eatty.
“It feels less wasteful,” Eatty said, “You can get a receipt that allows you to keep the deer and then you can process it or take it to a processor and keep the meat.”