MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Last week the 4th Annual Deer Harvest began in Meridian Township. This harvest aims at controlling the deer population in order to lower the amount of
deer-car collisions and other deer related complaints.

Deer-car collisions are not only a safety concern, they are also a monetary concern for those involved.

"One in five car crashes in Michigan each year involves a deer and the average cost of damage for a car crash is about $2,000 and that totals about $130 million dollars a year," said Lori Conarton, Chair of the Michigan Deer Crash Coalition.

Ingham County, where Meridian Township is located, is just out of the top 10 list of counties with the highest deer-car collisions, at number 11.

Last year there was an increase in the number of deer-car crashes in Meridian township. The number increased from 153 in 2012 to 180 in 2013.

In order to combat the high number of deer-car collisions and the possible increase in the deer population the number of hunters allowed in this years harvest has been increased to 73.

So far there have been 55 reported deer-car collisions in Meridian Township for 2014 according to data provided by the Michigan State Police.

In order to avoid or minimize harm in deer-car collisions officials recommend driving slowly in highly populated areas and slowing down until coming to a safe controlled stop if faced with a deer. Swerving for a deer is not encouraged.