States where you are most likely to hit an animal
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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
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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
