As you set out on Virginia highways this holiday week, keep a keen eye out for a hidden peril: deer.

Deer are more likely to be on the move this time of year, so it’s critical to be on the lookout for them when you’re behind the wheel.

Deer-vehicle collisions are on the rise, according to the Insurance Information Institute, due to increased urban sprawl that displaces deer when their natural habitats are destroyed or disturbed. Add an increase in deer movement during annual mating and migration season, which runs October to December, and the risk for collisions increases dramatically.

From July 2011 to June 2012, an estimated 1.23 million deer-vehicle collisions occurred in the United States, costing more than $4 billion in vehicle damage. It’s estimated deer-vehicle collisions cause about 200 fatalities each year.

To help prevent an accident, keep the following in mind:

• Dawn and dusk are when you’re most likely encounter deer
• Deer are more often found in wooded areas and the outskirts of town, although they do wander into neighborhoods
• If you see one deer, more are likely nearby—deer are pack animals
• Watch for the shine of eyes to alert you to animals like deer on the road ahead
• Pay attention to deer caution signs, which are placed in high-traffic areas where deer sightings are frequent
• Deer can become frozen in your headlights, so slow down and flash your lights, or try blowing your horn

Finally, always wear your seatbelt. Most severe injuries from deer-vehicle collisions are due to the fact that drivers were not wearing seatbelts.