Oh, deer! The chances of hitting one in NJ are on the rise

Here's an unwelcome advancing stat — New Jersey is 34th in the country for the number of motorist collisions with deer, up from 36th last year.

Stat's according to State Farm Insurance Company statistics. Spokeswoman Arlene Lester there are just more drivers in New Jersey than most places, and that increases the chances.

The insurance company uses rankings based upon how many claims residents of various states make over a year. It says a New Jersey driver has a 1 in 229 chance of being involved in an insurance claim involving a deer.

"The fall tends to be prime time because it is the mating season for the animals. And we find that the month of November actually is the highest chance of having a deer collision, followed by October and then December," Lester said.

The company also finds dusk to be a particularly dangerous time — because deer come out to feed, and plenty of motorists are on the road.

And a car-deer accident can cost you.

"This year, the average claim was just over $4,000," Lester said.

Joe Cutter is the afternoon news anchor on New Jersey 101.5.