Wildlife Accidents
Avoiding Wildlife Accidents on The Road
You see them every day, lying by the side of the freeway or in the middle of the road. Broken and battered, these animals are the innocent victims of our dependence on cars. Their deaths are made even more tragic by the fact that in many cases, they could have been prevented.
As our cities and suburbs continue to expand and encroach on their habitats, highways and byways become places to search for food and obstacles that must be crossed to reach water, a new home, or a mate.
Studies show that over 100 million animals are killed by cars every year. It is a shocking number, but one that can be reduced. Animal–friendly public planning policies such as refraining from building in sensitive wildlife corridors, building tunnels underneath roads for animals to use and increasing mass transit would go a long way towards saving lives.
But policies like these are only part of the solution. The single most important thing each of us can do is to drive safely. Many car accidents–including those with animals–involve excessive speed. So the first “rule of the road” is to slow down. And speeding is not only dangerous for people and animals, it doesn’t get you where you’re going much faster: on a 30 mile trip, you will arrive a mere five minutes earlier if you drive 65 mph instead of 55 mph.
Just as drivers must share the road with bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians, we must remember that animals share our roads as well. And because a ten pound animal is no match for a car, it is up to us to watch out for them.
Raccoons, skunks, and opossums are frequent victims because they can’t move quickly, they often have babies following them, and they may freeze or stand their ground in the face of danger–your oncoming headlights. Cats may dart out after your headlights have passed–but before your car has. And dogs will run onto the road without even noticing oncoming traffic.
It’s a dangerous world out there, but with safety in mind and a willingness to be part of the solution, we can reduce the tragic toll on our nation’s roads.
Keeping the Streets Safe for Animal Pedestrians
- Slow down! Never drive faster than the speed limit, and then drive only as fast as conditions safely allow. Take into account factors like rain, fog, darkness, and visibility when deciding how fast you should go. The faster you are going, the longer it will take you to stop if an animal runs into the road.
- Be especially cautious in spring and early summer when babies are first venturing out. If you see an adult animal in or on the side of the road, there’s a good chance babies are nearby. It is not uncommon for entire families of raccoons, skunks and opossums to be killed by one or two cars.
- Be especially watchful at dusk, dawn, and the first few hours after dark when many animals are active and adjusting to different levels of light.
- A light tap on your horn can help warn an animal out of the way as you drive slowly by.
- Scan the sides of the road up ahead as you drive. If you see movement, slow down.
- If you see something in the road, don’t assume “it’s nothing” or “it will move.” Don’t just change lanes–drivers behind you may not slow down. Remember that birds often cannot take off straight up and need room to get going and some animals freeze out of fear.
- Don’t toss food or food wrappers by the side of the road. Not only is it unsightly, but such debris draws hungry animals to the roadside.
If you do hit an animal, attempt to help to the best of your abilities. Never leave an animal to die, but do not handle the animal because of a rabies risk.
So please, give wildlife a break, by putting on the brakes!
