Did you know that wildlife collisions occur most often between 6-9 – both AM and PM hours? During the hours around sunrise and sunset, our wildlife is on the move. Wildlife, especially deer, are sometimes hard to see until the last moment, so we have some tips to help avoid wildlife collisions.
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Drive the speed limit. Driving at an appropriate speed for the area, especially in rural areas; this allows extra reaction time to spot wildlife and stop for them.
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Use your horn – If you see an animal on the road, it is not always possible to stop. A few short horn blasts can help alert animals to move off the road instead of freezing in place.
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Flick your lights – If you see an animal on or near the road, you can flick your lights to warn oncoming traffic of the hazard ahead.
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Don’t litter! Throwing food and garbage out while driving attracts animals to the road. It may seem like compostable items such as fruit peels or cores are fine to throw into nature, but they can attract wildlife and birds to the road, increasing the chance of a wildlife collision.
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Where there’s one, watch for more – Especially with deer, if you see one near the road or crossing the road, keep your eyes open, as there are likely more nearby
If you do have a collision with an animal, be sure to pull off the road safely and put on your hazard lights. If you can, check from a safe distance to see if the animal is still alive – if there is an injured animal, please call or text Hope for Wildlife’s emergency wildlife hotline at (902) 407-9453 with a description of the incident and the location. These few easy tips can help us all stay safe with in the darker mornings and evenings.
Got your 2023 calendar yet? Visit Hope for Wildlife Saturdays from 12pm-3pm or visit our giftshop online at www.hopeforwildlife.net/gift-shop to purchase a 2023 calendar or other merchandise. All proceeds go to Nova Scotia’s injured or orphaned wildlife.
