It’s a tough time of the year for Bambi. “The total number of collisions with deer in the nation have grown by 21 percent in the past five years, while the number of miles driven by motorists in the nation is up only by 2 percent,” said Dick Luedke of State Farm Insurance, which tracks deer collisions. “That tells us that there are either more deer out there or we are not doing as good a job at avoiding them as we did five years ago. Maybe both are true.”

This is the peak season for such incidents, the Department of Environmental Protection warned motorists last week.

Avoiding them is difficult. “Deer are most active during dawn and dusk, and this is the time of year when our major commuting hours also are at dawn and dusk,” said Lawrence Herrighty, deputy director of the state Division of Fish and Wildlife.

He said it is also the beginning of the breeding season.

“Although the peak of the rut or breeding is usually a week before Thanksgiving, deer are becoming active. Male deer, particularly, will start chasing the does around, and they are not cognizant of cars as they run,” he added. Read full story in Star Ledger.

(TLS VIDEO: Deer standing near the road on 7th Street).