Data Shows Michigan Is 4th Worst State for Animal Collisions

If you've ever driven through Michigan and thought, "Boy, we really love deer in this state," congratulations — your suspicions are statistically validated. According to the latest State Farm data, Michigan ranks fourth in the entire United States for animal collisions with vehicles, with your odds of hitting one at 1 in 61.

RELATED: New Data Reveals Michigan Danger Zones: 83 County Car - Deer Crash Ranking

Michigan’s Harsh Animal-Collision Reality

Chances are, if you've spent most of your life in the Mitten State, you've experienced the soul-sucking moment you realize you're about to collide with a deer more than once. However, believe it or not, there are places where the roadside animals have an even bigger deathwish than the critters in Michigan.

States Worse Than Michigan for Deer Crashes

Let's meet the three states that are statistically even worse at avoiding fluffy-tailed hoofed friends than we are:

1. West Virginia — the national champion of vehicular wildlife encounters, with a jaw-dropping 1 in 40 chance that any given driver gets up close and personal with a feral bumper denter.
2. Montana — where open roads and huge roaming wildlife put it in the second spot at 1 in 53.
3. Wisconsin — cheese lovers and deer lovers alike share the roads with odds of 1 in 58.

And yes, Michigan sits right behind them with its 1-in-61 odds — which is basically like drawing the short straw at the wildlife collision buffet.

What Low-Risk States Look Like

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Nevada or Hawaii boasts just 1 in 900+ odds of hitting something only slightly larger than a squirrel. Meanwhile, in Michigan, we just shrug, tighten our seatbelts, and mutter about that one time a deer didn't just cross the road — it came through the driver's side window.

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So the next time someone says Michigan isn't adventurous, just show them your dented bumper and remind them: we didn't hit the deer — it hit us.