Deer, deer

Deer, deer

everywhere Four collisions last week By Jeanne Spath Rappahannock News Staff Writer A quiet drive through the county at dawn and dusk can be more like driving through a maze. A deer maze. This past week, the Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Department reported four collisions as a result of drivers hitting deer., With 62 percent of the land in Rappahannock County being forest, this is a haven for wildlife. However, when wildlife and motor vehicles travel the same routes, the result is too often collisions. “We have had over 100 deer hit by vehicles this year already, mostly on Route 2.11,” said Jim Williams, VDOT maintenance supervisor located in Washington. Williams said that exact statistics are not generally kept by VDOT, but it appears that numbers are lower than last year. According to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, fall is breeding season for deer, thus deer are more active as they search for mates. Of the deer involved vehicle collisions, one-half to two-thirds occur during the months of October, November and December. The VDGIF does recommend that when driving at dusk and dawn, motorists should slow down and be more attentive. When you see one deer, there are most likely more following it. Also, deer instinctively cross paths at the same place, therefore heed the warning signs that the Virginia Department of Transportation has posted. Williams said that he has often seen a deer lying on one side of Route 211 and also at the same See DEER, Page A6 Meetings & Notices • On Thursday, Dec. 9 the Washington Architectural Review Board (ARB) will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall on Gay Street. S$e agenda on page A5. • On Tuesday, Dec. 14 there will be a School Board meeting at the Rappahannock County Elementary School. Closed session is at 7 p.m. and open session is at 7:30 p.m. • On Wednesday, Dec. 15 the Rappahannock County Planning Commission will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the county courthouse on Gay Street.