WILDLIFE

DWR gives tips on how to avoid hitting deer on the road this fall

SALT LAKE CITY — Ahead of daylight saving time, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is warning Utahns to be cautious of deer when driving. According to the DWR, November is the month with the highest amount of collisions with deer.

“The peak time to hit deer in Utah is during November,” Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Migration Initiative Coordinator Blair Stringham said. “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.”

The DWR said because of more low-visibility hours after daylight saving time, it’s more likely that drivers will encounter deer and other wildlife on the road.

Though fences and wildlife bridges have helped reduce collisions, the DWR said there have still been over 4000 deer and car collisions this year alone.

The DWR shared a list of tips from Wild Aware Utah on how to avoid collisions with wildlife:

• Keep alert during low-visibility hours like dawn and dusk.
• Take note of wildlife signs.
• Use high beams when possible.
• Don’t drive distracted.’

Wild Aware Utah also has tips on what to do if you see wildlife on the road:

• Slow down and don’t swerve.
• Honk and flash your lights to try to get the animals to move.

And if you do hit an animal, Wild Aware Utah said to pull over and put on your hazard lights, stay away from the animal and call 911 or a local police department if you are injured or if the animal poses a safety risk.

Related: Aggressive deer encounters have wildlife officials encouraging caution

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