They\u2019re hard to miss. <\/p>\n
New Jersey officials are warning commuters to be wary of an increased number of horny deer \u2014 as mating season kicks into full swing.<\/p>\n
Motorists should expect an increase in white-tailed deer activity in the morning and evenings on roadways \u201cas bucks attempt to court does\u201d during prime season, the state\u2019s Department of Environmental Protection<\/a> warned Friday.<\/p>\n A herd of deer runs across a dark road at night in Marple, Pa., on February 10. MediaNews Group via Getty Images<\/p>\n Known as the \u201cfall rut,\u201d peak mating times for deer in the Garden State continues from mid-to-late October through the middle of December, the agency said.<\/p>\n \u201cCollisions with deer pose a very serious safety threat and can cause significant damage to vehicles and possible loss of life<\/a>,\u201d Dave Golden, assistant commissioner for NJDEP Fish & Wildlife cautioned.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s especially important that drivers be extra vigilant to this threat and take time to know steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of collision.\u201d<\/p>\n Officials said that visibility issues spying the four-legged bucks<\/a> on roadways will become more hazardous when daylight savings time ends on Nov. 1.<\/p>\n The time change will see more commuters on the road during peak periods of bucks engaging in raunchy activity \u2014 which can significantly increase the risk of car collisions<\/a>, the department warned.<\/p>\n The population of white-tailed deer in New Jersey has reached problematic numbers in many suburban areas. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images<\/p>\n An estimated 25,000 car accidents involving deer occur every year in New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.<\/a><\/p>\n Similarly, an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 accidents are caused by deer each year in the New York, according to the New York State Department of Transportation<\/a>, which recently launched a new ad campaign to spread awareness.<\/p>\n Motorists are urged not to swerve if approaching deer on the road. dpa\/picture alliance via Getty Images<\/p>\n To stay protected against the sex-charged bucks, officials urge drivers to drive slower, watch for \u201cDeer Crossing\u201d signs and use high beams during dark hours.<\/p>\n