Increasing population has forced humans to once again step into the domain of animals.

According to a Highway Loss Data Institute report, 223 people died in animal-vehicle crashes in 2007. The animal – vehicle death in 2000 was 150. The death figures have almost doubled since 1993.

The study also indicates that insurance claims for crashes with animals are three times higher in November than it is from January to September.  This is because November is the breeding season of the animals.

Summit County Sheriff Dave holds sprawling as the reason for the accidents. Summit County has been witnessing a construction boom on mountain slopes and meadows that are prime habitat for large herbivores.

    "If you're driving in rural Utah, it's not a matter of if you're going to hit a deer," Edmunds said. "It's when."

    According to The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah Department of Transportation about 10,000 deer are killed in collisions every year. The number is about one third of the deer killed by hunters. It is also pertinent to note that hunters target only bucks whereas about 7000 female deer die in collisions. This further effects the deer population.

Two methods seem of controlling the accidents work best.

    The first one is warning signs in areas where deer migrate across highways.

    The second one, however, is more effective. The method involves building a transportation system that separates animals from traffic, using underpasses and overpasses combined with fencing.