SouthCoast Communities Lead Massachusetts in Deer-Related Crashes

In the state of Massachusetts, you're more likely to hit a deer than a bear, but it's the whereabouts that just might surprise you.

First off, allow me to welcome you into mating season for most animals, but in particular, deer. This is when you should be cautious the most as the deer are on the hunt (pun intended) for a mate. Maddie recently shared some tips to avoid hitting a deer, but sometimes, it's unavoidable.

A report published by Patch.com shows the leading counties and communities within Massachusetts who hold the record for the most deer-related accidents in 2020. It might come as no surprise that three SouthCoast communities have topped the list; however, one of them seems a little odd, so let's discuss further.

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Last year, Worchester County reported 248 car crashes that involved a deer. Bristol County came in second just shy of 200 with 194 crashes for the year. Here's where it gets interesting: Westport leads with 24 confirmed reports of a collision with a deer, Andover on the North Shore comes in second with 21 and Middleboro with 18.

Ready for the kicker? Fourth place out of any other community in the state, with a total of 17 deer-related crashes for 2020, is New Bedford.

Believe it or not, there are a lot of back roads and woodsy areas within the city that are crawling with deer. Not to mention Interstate195 that flows through New Bedford and is a frequent spot for crossing deer.

Between the deer searching around and drivers refusing to put their phone down, it's the perfect chemistry for catastrophe. If you're from Westport, then it's a known fact to keep an extra eye open. New Bedford, on the other hand, well I was today years old when I found out how dangerous city deer apparently are. Like my mother always said: keep your eyes on the road and two hands on the wheel. I take this to heart more than ever, especially since it's mating season.