Press Releases

June 25, 2008

Bureau of Motor Vehicles and Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Remind Motorists to be Watchful for Wildlife on Maine’s Roadways

“You might not walk away,” warn Secretary of State Matt Dunlap and IF&W Commissioner Roland “Dan” Martin.

Augusta—Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Roland “Dan” Martin join in urging motorists to be watchful of wildlife on or near Maine’s roadways. Their remarks came while discussing strategies to better educate the public about interacting with wildlife.

“Deer and moose are not just in the deep woods,” Martin said. “Wildlife is everywhere around us, but the potential hazards to motorists animals present can be minimized by cautious operation on the part of drivers.”

Martin added that while hitting a deer might cause thousands of dollars of damage to a vehicle, collisions with moose can have devastating consequences far beyond simple property damage. “Moose are very tall animals, and are likely to come through the windshield of a passenger car if the two collide,” he said, “which means a moose-car collision has very good odds of being lethal. Vehicles can always be replaced- people are irreplaceable. ”

Dunlap agreed. “The twilight hours around dawn and dusk are when these animals are most likely to be moving, and that’s also when they’re most difficult to see,” he said. “At twilight, headlights are only minimally effective at distinguishing animals in or near the road. The eyes of a moose, for example, don’t reflect light. Motorists must use great care when driving at night, especially on unlit rural roads. Avoiding a collision with loss of property and injury can certainly be done, but it requires keen attention by the driver. While colliding with a deer or moose presents the greatest chance of injury to a driver, the danger isn’t limited to big animals. Swerving to avoid striking a small animal like a squirrel can cause a dangerous crash as well.”

Martin pointed out that moose travel in and near roadways for several reasons. “This time of year, biting flies drive animals out of the woods and into open areas,” he said. “After a long winter of eating poor-quality food, their bodies crave the salt that is easily found along roadsides. Those areas also offer tender plant shoots, and other abundant sources of food. Yearling moose, recently forced away from their mothers as the mothers prepare to give birth to this year’s calves, often wander and are seen around roadways. Moose also tend to move in groups. If you see one, slow down, as there are most likely others in the vicinity.”

Martin further explained that animals often seem to appear out of nowhere, darting into the roadway. “Certainly, one of the thrills of living in Maine is having the opportunity to see moose, deer, bear, and many other amazing animals while driving on our roads,” he said. “Keeping vigilant behind the wheel can assure that seeing those animals remains a memorable experience for all the right reasons.”

Approximately 3,000 deer-vehicle collisions occur annually. Maine averages nearly three fatalities a year resulting from moose-vehicle collisions, and 24 of 28 fatalities over the past 10 years occurred when it was dark. The number of moose crashes peaks between 7 p.m. and midnight. Additionally, moose move more during the evening after it cools down from daytime high temperatures.

As a driver, there are several steps you can take to minimize the chance of being involved in a moose-vehicle collision. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists have the following recommendations:

Drivers should reduce their speed when it is dark.
Use your high beams where it is appropriate.
Always have everyone buckle up. It’s the law!
Scan the roadway ahead to identify potential problems.

If a crash is unavoidable, motorists should:

Apply the brakes.
Let up on the brakes just before impact.
Aim to hit the tail end of the animal if possible.
Duck to minimize injury.

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

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