MInnesota ranks 8th in deer crash likelihood

Minnesota drivers have nearly a one-in-80 chance of hitting a deer in the next year, making this the eighth mosty likely place for such collisions. Minnesota actually dropped from sixth to eighth in the last year, leapfrogging Wisconsin. The Badger State held firm at No. 7.

The stats come from an analysis prepared by State Farm, the insurance company, using Federal Highway Administration data.

South Dakota move from third to second on the list with one-in-68 odds. Iowa dropped from No. 2 to No. 3 with one-in-71.9 chances.

Here is a link to a nifty colored map showing the danger states in red. (Yes, Minnesota is a red state, at least in this data).

Here is a not-so-nifty chart with all the stats.

And here are some tips to avoid deer:

*They travel in herds, so if you see one, more are around.

*Primetime for deer crashes is 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., so take heed.

*Deer crossing signs are there for a reason, pay attention to them.

*Use high-beam brights in deer areas.

*If a crash is inevitable, don't swerve because you might hit a moving car head-on, which would be worse in most cases.