State Farm cautions drivers of increased animal-collision risk

A recent Transport Canada report found that between four and eight large animal vehicle collisions take place every hour in Canada, State Farm says in a press release.In addition, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources estimates there is a motor vehicle-wild animal collision every 38 minutes; approximately one out of every five motor vehicle collisions involves a wild animal. In New Brunswick, more than 300 moose-vehicle collisions occur each year, according to State Farm. The insurer’s U.S. data suggests deer-vehicle collisions are three times more likely to occur on a day in November than they are on any day between Feb. 1 and Aug. 31. October is the second most likely month for a crash involving a deer and a vehicle. The average property damage cost of these incidents during 2010 H2 and 2011 H1 was $3,171, marking a 2.2% increase from the same period of the prior year.