Your odds of being killed by an animal in the U.S. are incredibly low. An academic analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data covering all animal-involved deaths from 2008 to 2015 found that Americans have just 1 chance in 1.6 million each year of dying as a result of any interaction at all with animals.

And the most common culprits when those tragedies do occur aren’t the alligators, scorpions, or snakes you’d probably expect and fear the most—they’re deer. As people continue to build homes and communities in places deer and other animals have lived for millennia, these creatures are more likely to run into the middle of the road—causing at least 1.9 million vehicular accidents over the year ending June 2022.

Accidents specifically involving deer are more common between October and December, which is deer mating season. The odds of hitting a deer are also higher around dawn, as well as during the night when deer are most active and roads are dark. Deer-vehicle crashes are dangerous and expensive, costing drivers north of $4,000 or more depending on the vehicle and the extent of the damage.

Stacker used State Farm’s annual animal collision study to rank all 50 states and Washington D.C. by the likelihood a driver there will hit an animal. State Farm bases its rankings on insurance claims filed between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, as well as the number of licensed drivers in each state. True odds may vary, depending on the number of unreported animal collisions and unlicensed drivers.

State Farm’s claims analysis also found that the 2021-2022 period was a safer year for drivers and animals on the road than the year prior, with collisions dropping 5.5%. The odds that a driver collides with any animal on the road is about 1 in 115. The other four victims rounding out the top five of car-animal collisions were rodents, dogs, raccoons, and unidentified animals.

It may come as no surprise to find that the more rural areas of Appalachia and the Midwest had some of the highest car-animal crash odds in the country, while the desert Southwest had some of the lowest.

Curious to see if your state topped the list? Click through to find out—and remember to always keep your eyes on the road, no matter the odds.

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StillRude // Shutterstock

#51. Washington D.C.

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 907 (0.11% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low Wild goats walking across a road in the Valley of Fire.

Brester Irina // Shutterstock

#50. Nevada

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 698 (0.14% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low A rooster walking across the street in Honolulu.

John Drew Dow // Shutterstock

#49. Hawaii

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 580 (0.17% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low A donkey on the side of the road in Oatman.

Mattia Cioni // Shutterstock

#48. Arizona

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 441 (0.23% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low An alligator crossing a road in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

Tony Campbell // Shutterstock

#47. Florida

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 408 (0.25% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

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Troutnut // Shutterstock

#46. Alaska

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 395 (0.25% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low A wild black bear crossing the road in Kings Canyon National Park.

M. Vinuesa // Shutterstock

#45. California

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 363 (0.28% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low A wild turkey crossing a sunny state highway in Kittitas County.

knelson20 // Shutterstock

#44. Washington

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 250 (0.40% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low A snapping turtle crossing a road in Windsor Locks.

Jennifer Yakey-Ault // Shutterstock

#43. Connecticut

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 231 (0.43% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low A car stopping for a large bull that is crossing a highway in Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation.

Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

#42. New Mexico

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 222 (0.45% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

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LanaG // Shutterstock

#41. Colorado

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 204 (0.49% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low Cattle crossing the desert road in Moab.

Logan Bush // Shutterstock

#40. Utah

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 200 (0.50% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low A wild deer on the side of the road in the Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area Park.

EQRoy // Shutterstock

#39. New Jersey

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 194 (0.52% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low An alligator crossing a road in New Orleans.

mark smith nsb // Shutterstock

#38. Louisiana

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 178 (0.56% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low Cattle and cowboys on crossing a road in Outback Scenic Byway.

Natalia Bratslavsky // Shutterstock

#37. Oregon

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 165 (0.61% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low

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Henryk Sadura // Shutterstock

#36. Texas

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 154 (0.65% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low A white tail deer crossing the road near houses in Oneonta.

Andrea Izzotti // Shutterstock

#35. New York

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 140 (0.71% of drivers)
– Risk level: Low Deer crossing a suburban road.

A.E. Blair Photography // Shutterstock

#34. Illinois

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 139 (0.72% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium A snapping turtle with an outstretched neck crossing a dirt road.

LMortell // Shutterstock

#33. New Hampshire

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 130 (0.77% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium A red fox on the side of a road in the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge.

VIKVAD // Shutterstock

#32. Delaware

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 122 (0.82% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

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Canva

#31. Rhode Island

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 113 (0.88% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium A bison crossing a road in the Wichita Mountains.

ken1979 // Shutterstock

#30. Oklahoma

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 112 (0.89% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium A deer crossing a road in McCall.

Arne Beruldsen // Shutterstock

#29. Idaho

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 112 (0.89% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium Geese crossing a road while cars are waiting.

flysnowfly // Shutterstock

#28. Massachusetts

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 109 (0.92% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium A large snapping turtle crossing a road.

Amanda Schell // Shutterstock

#27. Nebraska

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 107 (0.93% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

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Carolyn Franks // Shutterstock

#26. Tennessee

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 107 (0.93% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium A muddy wild horse crossing a road.

kathleen collins // Shutterstock

#25. Maryland

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 105 (0.95% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium A common ribbon snake crawling on a road.

AlyoshinE // Shutterstock

#24. Indiana

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 95 (1.05% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium A gopher tortoise crossing a road at Gulf State Park with grass in its mouth.

Bradley Huchteman // Shutterstock

#23. Alabama

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 94 (1.06% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium A deer walking toward a road in Columbus.

Eric Glenn // Shutterstock

#22. Ohio

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 94 (1.06% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium

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Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

#21. Vermont

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 90 (1.11% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium A rat snake on a road in northeastern Georgia.

Charles F. Gibson // Shutterstock

#20. Georgia

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 86 (1.16% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium A snapping turtle crossing a road.

Michele Korfhage // Shutterstock

#19. Kentucky

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 85 (1.18% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium A herd of cow and a cowboy on the side of a Kansas road.

Photo Spirit // Shutterstock

#18. Kansas

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 83 (1.20% of drivers)
– Risk level: Medium A deer on the side of a wooded road.

Tyler Miller // Shutterstock

#17. North Carolina

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 77 (1.30% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

LanaG // Shutterstock

#16. Missouri

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 76 (1.32% of drivers)
– Risk level: High A deer crossing a road in Arcadia National Park.

MH Anderson Photography // Shutterstock

#15. Maine

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 75 (1.33% of drivers)
– Risk level: High An elk about to cross a road.

Lorri Carter // Shutterstock

#14. Arkansas

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 75 (1.33% of drivers)
– Risk level: High A deer running across a road in Shenandoah National Park.

Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock

#13. Virginia

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 72 (1.39% of drivers)
– Risk level: High An alligator crossing a road.

David McManus // Shutterstock

#12. South Carolina

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 71 (1.41% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

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BlueBarronPhoto // Shutterstock

#11. Minnesota

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 70 (1.43% of drivers)
– Risk level: High Two white-tailed deers crossing a road in Yellowstone National Park.

Fotos593 // Shutterstock

#10. Wyoming

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 68 (1.47% of drivers)
– Risk level: High A herd of bison crossing the Scenic Drive in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Bram Reusen // Shutterstock

#9. North Dakota

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 68 (1.47% of drivers)
– Risk level: High A deer crossing a road.

Canva

#8. Mississippi

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 60 (1.67% of drivers)
– Risk level: High A herd of American Bison causing a traffic jam on a rural road in the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.

Bella Bender // Shutterstock

#7. Iowa

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 57 (1.75% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

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Rosemarie Mosteller // Shutterstock

#6. Pennsylvania

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 57 (1.75% of drivers)
– Risk level: High A group of white-tailed deer crossing a county highway road.

Michael Tatman // Shutterstock

#5. Wisconsin

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 54 (1.85% of drivers)
– Risk level: High Geese crossing a road at Belle Isle Park in Detroit.

StompingGirl // Shutterstock

#4. Michigan

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 51 (1.96% of drivers)
– Risk level: High A bison crossing a dirt road with traffic in the background at Custer State Park.

Tami Freed // Shutterstock

#3. South Dakota

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 51 (1.96% of drivers)
– Risk level: High A herd of wild bison crossing a road in front of stopped cars in Yellowstone National Park.

EQRoy // Shutterstock

#2. Montana

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 44 (2.27% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

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DSBurnside // Shutterstock

#1. West Virginia

– Chances of hitting an animal in 2023: 1 in 35 (2.86% of drivers)
– Risk level: High

Stacker

Stacker is a news organization that produces and distributes data journalism to the world’s news organizations. Founded in 2017, Stacker combines data analysis with rich editorial context, drawing on authoritative sources and subject matter experts to drive storytelling. This article has been republished pursuant to a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.