Drivers are more likely to hit deer in these metro Atlanta counties this week

Drivers, make sure you pay extra attention when you hit the road this week. This week is the peak deer breeding season for most of metro Atlanta.

While deer can run out in traffic any time, state wildlife officials say now through Thanksgiving is when Georgia sees the most deer-car accidents.

What drivers need to look out for, LIVE on Channel 2 Action News This Morning from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Biologists with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources track movement and collision data. They say deer are most active at dawn and dusk and blame the shorter days.

“The increase deer activity coincides with people commuting to work and the time change kinda bumps people into those high-activity hours for deer,” said DNR Urban Wildlife Biologist Blake Graber.

TRENDING STORIES:

• McCaysville water service restored after days of post-flooding recovery but not safe to drink yet
• AP Top 25: Georgia Bulldogs move up to No. 1
• Panda fever hits Atlanta as Ping Ping, Fu Shuang meet the public

The DNR works with researchers at the University of Georgia to map deer activity and breeding season, or rut, across Georgia. This week is peak for Cherokee, Fulton and Gwinnett counties. Barrow, Douglas and Hall counties could see more deer later this week.

Cobb and DeKalb counties hit their peak last week, according to the map.

“That’s another reason we see these deer-vehicle collisions in high-numbers around Atlanta is because their population is over-abundant due to the large amount of greenspace, but also the reduced hunting pressure around urban areas,” Graber said.

Drivers should watch for more deer movement, especially where there are wooded areas close to the road.

“Just being more aware, driving slower, if you see one deer there’s likely to be more deer,” Graber said.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]