Daylight savings time is coming soon and with the change comes lower-visibility during evening commutes. This may not seem like cause for much concern but it also aligns with peak migration season which means higher vehicle/deer collisions in Utah year after year. “The time of year with the highest risk of hitting deer in Utah is during November,” shares Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Migration Initiative Coordinator Makeda Hanson. “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.” Tips to help travelers avoid wildlife collisions are to be especially alert at dawn and dusk, heed wildlife crossing signs; be alert on roadways near wooded, agricultural and wetland areas and also near lakes and streams; scan both sides of the road as you drive; invite passengers to help watch for wildlife; do not drive distracted; when possible, use high-beam headlights to better illuminate the road; and look for animal eyeshine. If you see an animal on or near the road, do not swerve. Stay in your lane and slow down. If you have an accident or see roadkill, please report it on the Utah Roadkill Reporter app. For more information, visit wildlife.utah.gov/news.
Photo: wildlife.utah.gov