Tennessee Valley – As winter settles in across the Tennessee Valley and daylight hours remain limited, drivers across Tennessee, northern Alabama, western Kentucky, and northeastern Mississippi are being warned about a regional danger that spikes sharply this time of year: wildlife collisions after dark.
According to wildlife and transportation agencies across the region, winter conditions alter animal movement patterns, bringing wildlife closer to roads and highways—often during evening and early morning hours when visibility is reduced. Shorter days mean more drivers are traveling in darkness just as wildlife activity increases.
White-tailed deer are the primary concern throughout the Tennessee Valley, particularly along rural highways, river corridors, and suburban roads near wooded hills and farmland. In Tennessee and Kentucky, collisions are common near rolling terrain and forested routes. In northern Alabama and northeastern Mississippi, deer frequently move along river bottoms, open farmland, and less-developed roadways bordering growing metro areas.
Wildlife officials note that winter feeding behavior causes deer to move earlier in the evening and later in the morning, overlapping with commute times and significantly increasing crash risk. Mild winter temperatures compared to northern regions often keep wildlife active throughout the season, extending the period of elevated danger.
Transportation officials across the Tennessee Valley urge drivers to slow down in areas marked with wildlife crossing signs and remain especially alert between sunset and sunrise. High beams should be used when possible, but drivers are cautioned not to swerve suddenly to avoid animals, as that can lead to loss of control or collisions with other vehicles—especially on two-lane highways.
Drivers are also encouraged to scan roadsides carefully near wooded areas, riverbanks, open fields, and rural or semi-rural stretches of road. Officials stress that deer often travel in groups, meaning if one animal crosses the roadway, others may follow moments later.
As winter continues across the Tennessee Valley, officials say wildlife-related crashes will remain a persistent regional hazard. Drivers are urged to use extra caution during evening and early morning travel, when animal movement is at its peak.
