Fall rut puts more deer and moose on Saskatchewan roads

Large mammals searching for a mate don’t bother to look when they cross roads and highways.

So drivers should watch for them, say organizers of the annual “Give Wildlife a Brake” campaign.

“Fall is the breeding season for deer and moose,” causing them to travel more often while searching for mates, a Saskatchewan Government Insurance statement said. “This increased movement, combined with shorter daylight hours, creates a greater risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions.”

Its staff last year counted almost 8,600 crashes involving wildlife. Two people died and 412 other people got hurt in them, the statement said.

“Wildlife can appear on the road with very little warning, particularly at dawn, dusk and during the evening hours,” said the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation’s Darrell Crabbe of Moose Jaw. “If you spot an animal near the road, stay alert for others, as wildlife often travel in groups.”

“Slowing down and scanning the road from shoulder to shoulder gives drivers more time to react,” said Karol Noe, an executive with the insurance agency. “A few extra seconds of caution can protect drivers, passengers and Saskatchewan’s wildlife.”

When drivers can’t avoid a collision, they should slow down and “steer towards where the animal came from, not where it’s going,” the statement advised. “Following a collision, move the vehicle to a safe location when possible, turn on the hazard lights and contact the appropriate authorities. Injured or deceased wildlife should not be approached.”