PENOBSCOT COUNTY -- You don't have to be an outdoorsman to know Maine is home to an abundance of wildlife. While there's beauty to be found in that, it can also be a danger to motorists. Authorities say they've noticed an alarming rise in deer versus vehicle collisions in Penobscot County.

"Being from Maine, or driving through Maine, it's not uncommon to see deer or other wildlife on the sides of the road, down over an embankment, and we kind of get used to it," said Penobscot County Sheriff Troy Morton. "It's not like you're startled by seeing an animal you don't normally see. Perhaps a moose, you may be more startled to see a moose. But deer, we almost take for granted."

So far this year, as of Thursday, October 23, the Maine Department of Transportation says there's been nearly 5,

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