Fall in Michigan has a lot going for it: colorful leaves, crisp weather that’s a good amount of chilly but not quite too cold, and some of the best holidays (I’m partial to Halloween). It’s all of these things that make it my favorite season.

But there is one part of the season that I never look forward to, and that’s driving at sunrise and sunset. The reason? Deer. I can’t even begin to tell you the number of times I’ve had to slam on my brakes on my way home to avoid hitting one.

And the numbers back up my fear. Today, let’s take a closer look at why you should be extra careful while driving during the fall.

Then, I want to hear your Michigan scary stories.

Michigan landowners unhappy with state power line plan (Bridge Michigan): A proposed $1 billion network of high-voltage transmission lines, which would cut across Michigan properties, is causing concerns for landowners in the proposed path. The Copperton Projects aim to improve electric reliability statewide and are expected to come online in 2032, but affected residents worry about potential impacts on property values and other issues.

U of M begins national search for athletic director (The Detroit News): The University of Michigan has launched a national search for its next athletic director, with current AD Warde Manuel set to step down Dec. 31. The leadership change follows a $12 million investigation into the firing of former football coach Sherrone Moore and a broader review of the athletic department’s culture.

Lions narrowly beat Packers (AP News): The Detroit Lions beat the Green Bay Packers 20-17 on Jake Bates’ last-second field goal, overcoming two lost fumbles and a risky fourth-down call by coach Dan Campbell. The Lions have won two straight and now prepare to host the undefeated Minnesota Vikings Sunday.

Deer crashes by season in 2024. (Credit: Michigan Traffic Crash Facts)

By Aaron Jimenez, Capital News Service

Michigan drivers are entering the most dangerous stretch of the year for deer crashes. 

October through December accounted for more than 40% of the 58,324 vehicle-deer crashes reported statewide in 2024.

In those crashes, 1,816 people were injured and 14 were killed. 

November saw the highest number of crashes with 10,017, followed by October with 9,428.

The data comes from a study by the Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, compiled by the Office of Highway Safety Planning and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

Matthew Saxton, the executive director and CEO of the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, said several factors converge this time of year: Deer are in mating season, days are getting shorter, driving in the dark increases and clocks fall back on Nov. 1. 

Darkness is a major factor. State data showed 53% of vehicle-deer crashes in 2024 occurred on unlit roads after dark. Nearly 14,000 occurred between 6 p.m. and 8:59 p.m. 

Want deeper coverage of Michigan politics? Our free Thursday newsletter, This Week in Michigan Politics, breaks down what’s happening in Lansing and Washington—clearly and without the jargon.

With the midterms approaching, we’ll keep you informed on what could affect your day-to-day life.

Interested?

One of the best parts of every October is getting to share the spookier side of Michigan through this newsletter, like last week’s That One Time in Michigan, which chronicled the “swamp gas” UFO saga of 1966.

After publication, I received this email from reader Debi:

“I was so excited to see and read the article about the unusual sightings in Michigan back in 1966.  At that time, I attended Stoney Creek Elementary school in Comstock Park, Michigan.  During that same time, there were reports of a ‘flying saucer’ that landed in the field next to the school.  Classes were cancelled for three days after the sighting because ‘Martians were there to abduct every girl between 9 and 17.’

“I’ve searched and searched, but have never been able to find an article about what supposedly took place.  I would be inclined to think it was my imagination, but I have several other school friends from that time that also remember the terror people felt. If you could find anything on this, I would be thrilled!”

For anybody that has a clue as to what Debi is remembering, please reach out! But it also led me to think about all of the other potential scary or mysterious memories of Michigan you might be holding on to.

So, this week, I want to know:

Reminder: When responding, include your first name and where you’re from to have your answer included.

Have a question you want me to ask our community? Send it my way. I might feature it in a future edition.

Missed the answers to last week’s question: “How do you deal with all the leaves around the house?” Find them in our Friday newsletter here.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with a feature story from Capital News Service. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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