Are Deer Actually the Most Dangerous Animals in New Hampshire?

At approximately 5:15 a.m. on the way to work one morning, I came around a corner (at a reasonable, legal speed like I promised, Officer Aiden of the Dover PD!) and had to slam on my brakes when I encountered a family (gang?) of seven deer standing in the middle of the road, enjoying an early breakfast.

My back and neck were sore for days, while the deer remained unscathed and unmoved.

It was kind of creepy, something out of a Stephen King novel: a bunch of nonplussed deer, staring me down in the wee hours of the morning on a wooded road. A full minute passed before they nonchalantly departed, their eyes fixed on me the whole time.

But it got me thinking: are deer quietly the most dangerous animal in New Hampshire?

We spend all our time worrying about animals like the Northshore Black Bear, but when you think about a deer’s propensity to run into the road, often right at cars, they must pose more of an everyday “danger.”

In fact, according to New Hampshire Wildlife Fish and Game, 1,200 deer collide with vehicles each year in the Granite State. Most don't even have the decency to leave a note on the windshield.

But according to AZ Animals, deer don’t technically pose the same “threat” as other animals, and larger creatures still have the upper hand (with one exception).

BLACK BEARS

As any New Hampshirite knows, a bear breaking into your home and rummaging through your kitchen isn’t quite as funny or Goldie Locks joke-inspiring as watching it on TikTok. That’s why it’s important to bear (haha) in mind these tips in case you encounter one of these bears.

MOOSE

Much like bears, moose can be aggressive when threatened by humans. Also, behaving that way when threatened by humans? Humans. But then comes the wildcard that humans and animals alike must fear (but often overlook)…

TICKS

You can barely see them, and if you don’t check yourself or your pets, it might be too late by the time you do. Also, you should separate yourself from the thinking that ticks die in the winter, as I can report finding ticks on two dogs I know as late as Christmas Eve.

So, as in “Bambi,” the deer skate once again. But they're still not as frightening as the wild animal one New England mom had to fight off to save her young child.