Michigan Deer Crashes: These Are the Worst Counties in the State

If it feels like you've been seeing more and more dead deer along the side of the road, it's not your imagination. They're everywhere right now.

This is the time of year when Michigan drivers slam into deer more than any other, and the numbers are honestly insane. Michigan saw over 56,000 deer crashes last year, and November alone accounted for more than 10,000 of them.

A new statewide crash report shows which counties had it the worst, and yeah, Genesee and Lapeer both landed in the top ten again. Anyone who drives Irish, M-24, Baldwin, Hill, or pretty much any rural stretch between Flint and Lapeer already knows how it goes. One minute, the road is nice and empty, the next minute, a deer launches out of the ditch like it is trying to take you out. And do not even get me started on I-69. That stretch is brutal this time of year.

Most of these crashes happen between October and December, but November is easily the peak.

See Also: Who’s Responsible for Removing Dead Deer From Michigan’s Roads?

Look, the advice hasn’t changed much: stay alert, especially at dawn and dusk. If you see one deer, you might as well assume more are right behind it. And whatever you do, do not swerve. Brake hard, keep the wheel straight, and stay in your lane. Swerving is how people end up in way worse situations.

Below is a closer look at the ten Michigan counties with the highest number of deer crashes last year, including where Genesee and Lapeer ended up. I doubt much will change this year, so stay alert and keep your eyes moving.