Here’s a ranking in which Idaho is improving: According to State Farm Insurance claims statistics, we’ve dropped from 26^th to 28^th in the nation for likelihood of motorists hitting a deer on our roads. West Virginia has remained atop the list in first place for the past eight years; Hawaii is last. Washington ranks 41^st; Utah, 34^th; and Montana, 3^rd.

State Farm found that the odds of a driver hitting a deer on Idaho roads is now 1 in 172, slightly higher than the national odds of 1 in 169. Idaho’s top months for car-deer collisions are November, followed by October, followed by December. The company’s tips for avoiding such collisions: Use caution in known deer zones; always wear a seatbelt; watch out from 6-9 p.m., when deer are most active; use high beams when possible; and avoid distractions like cell phones and eating. If a deer collision appears inevitable, State Farm advises drivers not to attempt to swerve out of the way, as that could be even more dangerous. Here's a link to the full 50-state comparison.