Christina Franc encountered an unexpected surprise while driving her car recently.

"I screamed and it was a two-second scream and the adrenaline rush just hit me," she said. "The deer just hit me on the right side without me even noticing. It happened faster than I could imagine."

Franc's vehicle slammed into a deer. The deer died and her car was seriously damaged.

Trina Rytwinski, who studies deer behaviour, said these types of collisions are likely to happen more frequently at this time of the year because it's mating season for the animals and they travel farther than usual.

The animals are attracted to roadways because they feed on low bushes, pools of water and winter salt.

But despite frequently finding themselves stuck in the headlights, deer are not attracted by them.

"They have a defence mechanism whereby they freeze and so I think they perceive the oncoming vehicles as predators as so they'll freeze in response," said Rytwinski.

Rytwinski said that if drivers spot a deer, they should try to stop, and avoiding swerving and honking their horns. She said it's important for drivers to use their high beam lights and obey the speed limit.

If you hit a deer, call the police even if damage is minimal.

Have you hit, or had a near-miss, with a dear? Have you say by posting your comments below.