Deer cause more car accidents than you think!

Motorists in the United States hit deer more than 1.5 million times a year, resulting in about 200 fatalities, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Pennsylvania is among the states with the highest rates of deer-involved collisions. In 2015, there were over 24,000 such crashes in Pennsylvania, according to PennDOT. That's an increase of over 1,000 from the previous year.

While deer may appear peaceful and innocent creatures crossing the road, they can cause some serious damage when they collide with a car. So much so that many states have instituted hefty fines for motorists who strike deer.

In Pennsylvania, the minimum fine for hitting a deer is $500. If you hit and kill a deer, that minimum fine jumps up to $1,000. The state also imposes a surcharge of $200 on motorists convicted of hitting a deer.

Fines aren't the only consequence of hitting a deer. There's also the cost of repairs to your car. Deer-related accidents often result in significant damage to vehicles – especially if the animal is hit head-on.

So how can you avoid hitting a deer? There are a few things motorists can do to decrease their chances of having an encounter with these animals:

• Be especially alert at dusk and dawn when deer are most active.

• Use high beams when possible – they can help you see farther ahead and better identify any potential hazards on the road, including deer.

• If you see one deer, there may be others nearby so slow down and be prepared to stop if necessary.

Deer are seriously misunderstood ungulates.3. Why do deer love to hang out near highways?

Deer are attracted to areas near highways because of the salt residue on the pavement. This mineral is essential for deer, as they require it for both their diet and health. The salt attracts the deer to the area, and they will often linger near highways in order to consume as much as possible.

4. A bumper crop of deer in the suburbs!

As residents of the suburbs, we are used to seeing deer wander through our neighborhoods. But this year, we seem to be seeing more deer than ever before! What could be causing this influx of deer in our community?

There are a few possible explanations for the bumper crop of deer in our neck of the woods. One possibility is that the deer are fleeing from hunting pressure in other parts of the state. Another possibility is that the warmer-than-average temperatures this winter have led to an increase in the deer population. Whatever the reason, it's clear that the deer are here to stay – so we might as well get used to them!

If you find yourself in close proximity to a deer, it's important to remember two key things: first, never approach a deer; and second, always give them plenty of space. Deer are skittish by nature, and if you get too close they may feel threatened and run away – or worse, they may attack.

Luckily, there are ways to avoid conflicts with deer even if you live in a neighborhood where they are prevalent. One easy way is to install motion-activated lighting around your property; this will help deter the deer from coming too close. You can also try planting plants that the deer dislike such as lavender, rue, rosemary, or garlic; alternatively, you can fence off your garden to keep the deer out altogether.

In short, it seems that we're going to be seeing more and more deer in our suburbs over the next few months. So take some time to learn about these beautiful animals – and be sure to take all necessary precautions when living near them!

5. 10 fun facts about deer

1. The white-tailed deer is the smallest member of the deer family, weighing in at around 90 pounds.

2. While they are small, they are incredibly fast, capable of reaching speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.

3. Deer can jump up to 10 feet high and cover distances of up to 30 feet in a single bound.

4. Contrary to popular belief, deer can see well in the dark - their eyes are specially adapted to allow them to see clearly at night.

5. Deer have great hearing, and can sense movement from as far away as 500 yards.

6. They also have an excellent sense of smell, which allows them to detect predators from long distances.

7. Female deer (called does) typically give birth to two fawns (baby deer) at a time.

8. Fawns are basically helpless when they are born - they can't even walk for the first few weeks of their life!

9. Deer grow new antlers each year, which start out as bony protrusions on their skull and then slowly grow into branched antlers over the course of several months.

10. bucks (male deer) use their antlers for fighting other bucks during the mating season; the larger and more impressive the antlers, the more successful a buck is likely to be with females