States where you are most likely to hit an animal

By Stacker

Published March 8, 2023 12:21 AM

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States where you are most likely to hit an animal

A car passes a deer crossing sign with a stag in the distance.

Your odds of being killed by an animal in the U.S. are incredibly low. An academic analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data covering all animal-involved deaths from 2008 to 2015 found that Americans have just 1 chance in 1.6 million each year of dying as a result of any interaction at all with animals.

And the most common culprits when those tragedies do occur aren’t the alligators, scorpions, or snakes you’d probably expect and fear the most—they’re deer. As people continue to build homes and communities in places deer and other animals have lived for millennia, these creatures are more likely to run into the middle of the road—causing at least 1.9 million vehicular accidents over the year ending June 2022.

Accidents specifically involving deer are more common between October and December, which is deer mating season. The odds of hitting a deer are also higher around dawn, as well as during the night when deer are most active and roads are dark. Deer-vehicle crashes are dangerous and expensive, costing drivers north of $4,000 or more depending on the vehicle and the extent of the damage.

Stacker used State Farm’s annual animal collision study to rank all 50 states and Washington D.C. by the likelihood a driver there will hit an animal. State Farm bases its rankings on insurance claims filed between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, as well as the number of licensed drivers in each state. True odds may vary, depending on the number of unreported animal collisions and unlicensed drivers.

State Farm’s claims analysis also found that the 2021-2022 period was a safer year for drivers and animals on the road than the year prior, with collisions dropping 5.5%. The odds that a driver collides with any animal on the road is about 1 in 115. The other four victims rounding out the top five of car-animal collisions were rodents, dogs, raccoons, and unidentified animals.

It may come as no surprise to find that the more rural areas of Appalachia and the Midwest had some of the highest car-animal crash odds in the country, while the desert Southwest had some of the lowest.

Curious to see if your state topped the list? Click through to find out—and remember to always keep your eyes on the road, no matter the odds.

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StillRude // Shutterstock

#51. Washington D.C.

A squirrel eating an apple on the side of a road in the District of Columbia with a police car in the background.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 907 (0.11% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

Brester Irina // Shutterstock

#50. Nevada

Wild goats walking across a road in the Valley of Fire.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 698 (0.14% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

John Drew Dow // Shutterstock

#49. Hawaii

A rooster walking across the street in Honolulu.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 580 (0.17% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

Mattia Cioni // Shutterstock

#48. Arizona

A donkey on the side of the road in Oatman.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 441 (0.23% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

Tony Campbell // Shutterstock

#47. Florida

An alligator crossing a road in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 408 (0.25% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

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Troutnut // Shutterstock

#46. Alaska

A large grizzly bear walking off into the sunset (and toward a car) on a road in Denali National Park.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 395 (0.25% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

M. Vinuesa // Shutterstock

#45. California

A wild black bear crossing the road in Kings Canyon National Park.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 363 (0.28% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

knelson20 // Shutterstock

#44. Washington

A wild turkey crossing a sunny state highway in Kittitas County.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 250 (0.40% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

Jennifer Yakey-Ault // Shutterstock

#43. Connecticut

A snapping turtle crossing a road in Windsor Locks.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 231 (0.43% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

#42. New Mexico

A car stopping for a large bull that is crossing a highway in Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 222 (0.45% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

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LanaG // Shutterstock

#41. Colorado

A bull elk walking on a highway in Rocky Mountain National Park.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 204 (0.49% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

Logan Bush // Shutterstock

#40. Utah

Cattle crossing the desert road in Moab.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 200 (0.50% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

EQRoy // Shutterstock

#39. New Jersey

A wild deer on the side of the road in the Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area Park.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 194 (0.52% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

mark smith nsb // Shutterstock

#38. Louisiana

An alligator crossing a road in New Orleans.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 178 (0.56% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

Natalia Bratslavsky // Shutterstock

#37. Oregon

Cattle and cowboys on crossing a road in Outback Scenic Byway.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 165 (0.61% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

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Henryk Sadura // Shutterstock

#36. Texas

Coyote crossing a road in Big Bend National Park.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 154 (0.65% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

Andrea Izzotti // Shutterstock

#35. New York

A white tail deer crossing the road near houses in Oneonta.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 140 (0.71% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

A.E. Blair Photography // Shutterstock

#34. Illinois

Deer crossing a suburban road.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 139 (0.72% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

LMortell // Shutterstock

#33. New Hampshire

A snapping turtle with an outstretched neck crossing a dirt road.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 130 (0.77% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

VIKVAD // Shutterstock

#32. Delaware

A red fox on the side of a road in the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 122 (0.82% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

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#31. Rhode Island

A young deer stands at the edge of a road on a sunny day.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 113 (0.88% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

ken1979 // Shutterstock

#30. Oklahoma

A bison crossing a road in the Wichita Mountains.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 112 (0.89% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

Arne Beruldsen // Shutterstock

#29. Idaho

A deer crossing a road in McCall.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 112 (0.89% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

flysnowfly // Shutterstock

#28. Massachusetts

Geese crossing a road while cars are waiting.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 109 (0.92% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

Amanda Schell // Shutterstock

#27. Nebraska

A large snapping turtle crossing a road.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 107 (0.93% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

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Carolyn Franks // Shutterstock

#26. Tennessee

A large male turkey walking on a Tennessee road.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 107 (0.93% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

kathleen collins // Shutterstock

#25. Maryland

A muddy wild horse crossing a road.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 105 (0.95% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

AlyoshinE // Shutterstock

#24. Indiana

A common ribbon snake crawling on a road.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 95 (1.05% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

Bradley Huchteman // Shutterstock

#23. Alabama

A gopher tortoise crossing a road at Gulf State Park with grass in its mouth.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 94 (1.06% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

Eric Glenn // Shutterstock

#22. Ohio

A deer walking toward a road in Columbus.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 94 (1.06% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

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Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

#21. Vermont

A herd of cow grazing near a road with a tractor driving down it.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 90 (1.11% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

Charles F. Gibson // Shutterstock

#20. Georgia

A rat snake on a road in northeastern Georgia.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 86 (1.16% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

Michele Korfhage // Shutterstock

#19. Kentucky

A snapping turtle crossing a road.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 85 (1.18% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

Photo Spirit // Shutterstock

#18. Kansas

A herd of cow and a cowboy on the side of a Kansas road.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 83 (1.20% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

Tyler Miller // Shutterstock

#17. North Carolina

A deer on the side of a wooded road.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 77 (1.30% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

LanaG // Shutterstock

#16. Missouri

Three deer crossing a street during a snow storm.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 76 (1.32% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

MH Anderson Photography // Shutterstock

#15. Maine

A deer crossing a road in Arcadia National Park.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 75 (1.33% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

Lorri Carter // Shutterstock

#14. Arkansas

An elk about to cross a road.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 75 (1.33% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock

#13. Virginia

A deer running across a road in Shenandoah National Park.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 72 (1.39% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

David McManus // Shutterstock

#12. South Carolina

An alligator crossing a road.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 71 (1.41% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

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BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock

#11. Minnesota

A deer walking along the side of a road in Voyageurs National Park.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 70 (1.43% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

Fotos593 // Shutterstock

#10. Wyoming

Two white-tailed deers crossing a road in Yellowstone National Park.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 68 (1.47% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

Bram Reusen // Shutterstock

#9. North Dakota

A herd of bison crossing the Scenic Drive in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 68 (1.47% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

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#8. Mississippi

A deer crossing a road.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 60 (1.67% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

Bella Bender // Shutterstock

#7. Iowa

A herd of American Bison causing a traffic jam on a rural road in the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 57 (1.75% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

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Rosemarie Mosteller // Shutterstock

#6. Pennsylvania

A white tail deer standing in the middle of a Pennsylvania road.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 57 (1.75% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

Michael Tatman // Shutterstock

#5. Wisconsin

A group of white-tailed deer crossing a county highway road.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 54 (1.85% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

StompingGirl // Shutterstock

#4. Michigan

Geese crossing a road at Belle Isle Park in Detroit.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 51 (1.96% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

Tami Freed // Shutterstock

#3. South Dakota

A bison crossing a dirt road with traffic in the background at Custer State Park.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 51 (1.96% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

EQRoy // Shutterstock

#2. Montana

A herd of wild bison crossing a road in front of stopped cars in Yellowstone National Park.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 44 (2.27% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

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DSBurnside // Shutterstock

#1. West Virginia

A deer crossing a road.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 35 (2.86% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

Article Topic Follows: stacker-Science

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