A buck steps into the road as a truck approaches in Oak City, Utah, in November 2022. The Utah Division of Wildlife says vehicle-wildlife collisions are most common in November. (Photo courtesy of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources)
As the days become shorter, the risk of hitting wildlife on Utah roads increases. According to the state’s Division of Wildlife Resources, November is “peak time” to hit a deer.
So far this year, there have been more than 7,800 collisions between vehicles and wildlife in Utah, according to the division, often correlating with rush hour traffic — deer are most active during the early morning and evening hours.
What’s more, deer and elk tend to migrate in October and November from their high-elevation summer habitat to lower elevations in search of food.
The result is a perfect storm for vehicle-wildlife collisions. With daylight savings ending on Nov. 3, the sun will begin to set around 5 p.m. and Utahns will be driving home from work with less visibility and increased big game activity on the roads.
“The peak time to hit deer in Utah is during November,” said Makeda Hanson, mitigation initiative coordinator with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. “It coincides with mating season and the annual migration of deer. Animals are crossing more roads during the migration, and male deer move around a lot more to find mates. It also doesn’t help that the daylight hours are shorter during this time of year, creating lower visibility for drivers.”
The division said Utahns should be especially careful at dawn and dusk, or when driving near wooded, agricultural or wetland areas. Don’t drive distracted, and slow down the second you spot an animal, even if it’s not in the road — animals like deer or pronghorn sometimes travel in groups and if you see one, there could be more about to cross the road.
It might sound obvious, but the state’s “wildlife crossing” signs are strategically placed, often in areas frequented by animals during migration.
If you do see an animal in the road, be sure to stay in your lane and slow down. Swerving for deer or small animals can increase your chances of getting in an accident. If they don’t move, honk your horn or flash your high beams to get them to move.
And, if the unfortunate happens and you do hit an animal, the division recommends pulling off the road and putting on your hazard lights if your car is damaged. Don’t approach the animal if it’s injured, wildlife officials say — that could also put you at risk. Call 911 if anyone was injured, or if the animal or other debris poses a threat to other drivers.
The division also asks that anyone involved in a wildlife-vehicle collision submit a report through the Utah Roadkill Reporter app.
“When you submit a report of hitting an animal through the Utah Roadkill Reporter app, it helps provide information about potential areas for wildlife crossings. The data collected through the app also benefits the Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative and its efforts to learn more about the annual migration patterns of different animal species in Utah,” said Hanson.
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