NORTH CAROLINA - In order to help reduce the number of wildlife-related automobile crashes, the N.C. Department of Transportation reminds motorists to be aware of the increased presence of deer on state roads during the fall months. 
 
More than 19,500 animal-related crashes were reported each of the last three years, and 90 percent of those involved deer. Since 2008, the incidents have resulted in 3,453 injuries to people, of which 17 were fatal, and nearly $136 million in property damage.
 
“Deer are constantly on the move this time of year, especially in densely populated areas,” said NCDOT Director of Mobility and Safety Kevin Lacy. “Drivers need to be alert at all times. However, if you can’t avoid a deer, it is better to hit it than to lose control of your vehicle and cause a bigger accident.”

SALISBURY - It's one of the most familiar, and to some, annoying, sounds of spring...the drone of cicadas.

The Scotts Company has provided WBTV with some background information about the cicada, and its recommendations on how to handle the noisy pest:

If you live anywhere in the Eastern United States, you know the loud vibrating noise ebb and flow from Cicadas in the backyard. Every few years, noisy Cicadas not only make your spring months hard on the ears, but also hard on your plants.

WAXHAW - This is a wonderful story for animal lovers.

A weakened fawn was cared for and nursed back to health thanks to some very caring people.

Some Union County residents were passing through Waxhaw on Providence Road last Friday when they saw a baby fawn wandering along the road.