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Deer season means trouble for drivers in Illinois

The Associated Press

GALESBURG, Ill. (AP) - State officials are reminding Illinois drivers that the number of deer wandering onto the state's roads and highways will be up in the weeks ahead.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Januari Smith told The (Galesburg) Register-Mail that with most crops harvested deer have fewer obvious food sources.

She said deer also do more wandering in the fall because it's mating season.

Thousands of auto accidents are caused by deer every year.

Just one company, American Family Insurance, said its customers reported 1,918 collisions with animals between July 2009 and July 2010. Most were with deer.

Smith said drivers need to be particularly careful around sunrise and sunset