We all know of someone that has hit an animal while driving or had a close call when an animal is ‘Caught in the headlights’ and does not signal their intentions. In agricultural Sonoma County there is also the risk of horses, cows or other stock wandering the roadway. Horses become frightened and will run into a stopped car, the outcome is never good when car and animal try to occupy the same space.
Every autumn, as Daylight Saving Time concludes, the number of vehicle-wildlife collisions on California roadways increases. As drivers adjust to less daylight during the evening commute during the first week of November, please understand this is also the time of year that deer, elk, bears, and other animals are typically on the move for migration, mating, or foraging.
Collisions with wildlife can be dangerous and costly for drivers. Nearly 400 people were injured in more than two thousand collisions in 2019 involving wildlife, according to the California Highway Patrol. Also, the UC Davis Road Ecology Center estimates the total annual cost of animal-vehicle conflicts in California to be about $250 million.
This from the California Department of Fish and wildlife. “Wildlife-vehicle collisions pose an increasingly significant threat to both people and wildlife and can result in serious injury or death. This time of year, large native species such as deer and elk are more likely to cross highways or roads during their mating season (rut), and black bears are on the search for food,” said Human-Wildlife Conflict Program Coordinator Vicky Monroe. “We ask drivers to remain cautious, vigilant, and aware of their surroundings while driving to help reduce this conflict.”
Standard driving safety tips that also benefit wildlife include:
Be extra alert when driving near areas wildlife frequent, such as streams and rivers, and reduce your speed especially around curves.
Don’t text and drive! Leave your phone alone; it can wait.
Pay extra attention driving during the morning and evening hours when wildlife is often most active.
If you see an animal on or near the road, know that others may be following.
Don’t litter. Trash and food odors can attract animals to roadways.
Pay attention to road shoulders. Look for movement or reflecting eyes. Slow down and honk your horn if you see an animal on or near the road.
Respect wildlife. California is their home too.
This brings to mind another serious wildlife collision that has become more common, wild turkeys sometimes are less cautious. Imagine a twenty-pound hunk of something flying across the road, here you are minding your own business as an aware and safe driver. Bam! A big turkey hits your car, a big cloud of feathers and hopefully the bird is not in your lap.
The crab season for sportsmen opened last week, seas were rough, but some brave souls got out and set crab hoops and snares. On the fishing sites the lucky winners are shown holding their crabs. Do watch the wind and weather conditions before you launch for a crab trip.
Bill Hanson is a Sonoma County native and a lifelong sportsman. He is the former president of the Sonoma County Mycological Association. Look for his column in The Community Voice each week.