Car & Driver has ranked the odds of hitting a deer by state using data from State Farm. The national average is 1 in 169. West Virginia tops the list with 1 in 43 odds, but where does Minnesota rank?

From the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety: Deer-vehicle crashes peak in the autumn months, but Minnesota’s large deer population makes them a safety hazard on the road all year long. Deer crashes are especially dangerous for motorcyclists — a group which accounts for a majority of deer-related vehicle deaths.

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Top Ten States Driving vs. Deer Odds

  1. West Virginia: 1 in 43
  2. Montana: 1 in 57
  3. Pennsylvania: 1 in 63
  4. Iowa: 1 in 69
  5. Wisconsin  1 in 72
  6. South Dakota: 1 in 73
  7. Minnesota: 1 in 74
  8. Colorado: 1 in 79
  9. Michigan: 1 in 89
  10. Virginia: 1 in 94
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Deer Safety Tips: Do Not Swerve

You're enjoying a nice, peaceful Sunday drive, when suddenly a deer jumps out of the bushes and into your path on the highway. Your initial reaction may be to suddenly swerve to avoid the animal -- but experts advise against it!

Instead, the recommended reaction is to break in a straight line. What could result in only a minor collision could be much worse if you swerve and leave the road -- hitting another object or rolling your vehicle.

According to the info provided by Car & Driver and State Farm, the animals most struck by vehicles in the U.S. are:

  1. Deer
  2. Racoons
  3. Dogs
  4. Turkeys
  5. Coyotes

Now keep in mind, that's national data. Here in Minnesota the top three are in play, heck even turkeys get in the way -- but for most of us in the Land of 10,000 Lakes we could probably replace coyotes with skunks. Just going with what I see on the roads.

HOW TO DRIVE SAFELY WHEN DEER ARE AROUND

KEEP READING: 10 Animals in Minnesota That Can Predict the Weather

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