Chances of hitting a deer rising in WI - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

Eau Claire (WQOW)- Your odds of hitting a deer while behind the wheel in Wisconsin are on the rise.

According to a recent report from State Farm Insurance the odds of hitting a deer have increased to 1 in 79.  Last year that number was 1 in 88.  The state patrol believes accidents are most likely during this time of year when deer are very active.

"We've experienced it ourselves in the last few weeks. We have already had two fleet crashes with deer, one in Eau Claire County and one in Dunn County. So we know that they are out there," says Lt. Jeff Lorentz, Wisconsin DOT.

It's estimated that deer are involved in 18,000 crashes a year in Wisconsin. The state patrol wants to remind drivers that if you see one deer, there's usually another following so be cautious and drive slow.