Rough winter raises danger of car-wildlife collisions

Eastern and central Oregon’s harsh winter season has not only resulted in more snow and ice on the roadway, but has also contributed to numerous vehicle-wildlife collisions, state highway and wildlife officials advised Friday.

While exact figures are not yet available. both the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife indicate the number of deer and other wildlife on and near roadways is higher than usual.

“Deeper snow in the mountains brings more animals further down into valley areas,” said Randy Lewis, ODFW assistant district wildlife biologist. “They are looking for the easiest path that will use the least amount of energy as they search for food.”

The path of least resistance may include sections of highways or other transportation routes. In some cases, high snow berms along road shoulders have created corridors where animals get trapped.

“The banks of snow are sometimes so steep on the sides of the road that deer panic and kind of ping-pong back and forth, looking for a place to escape,” Lewis said. “Motorists who don’t slow way down are likely to strike animals in these situations.”

Some travelers who express concern about wildlife on the roadway often request more wildlife crossing signs. But ODOT says that wildlife warning signs are not very effective at reducing the number of crashes.

“We have numerous wildlife warning signs, including two new signs with flashing lights that the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife installed last year along U.S. 20 between Vale and Juntura,” said ODOT District 14 Assistant Manager Jeff Berry.

Unfortunately, motorists have a tendency to become complacent and ignore signs, if there are too many of them, or forget about them within a minute or two, especially if they don’t see an associated danger near the sign.

Both ODOT and ODFW officials agree that the key to avoiding a collision with deer, elk or other critters is to stay alert and be prepared, particularly during early morning and late afternoon.

“The best advice is to slow down and keep a keen eye on the road, especially around dusk and dawn when many animals are on the move,” Lewis said. “Travelers should also take extra care on curvy highways and routes with trees or other vegetation that limit your ability to see ahead.”

If you not expecting wildlife on the roadway, you should. They can be just about anywhere in Eastern and Central Oregon.

Deer typically travel in groups, so if you see one, slow down and watch out for others. Don’t expect them to do the logical thing, either. Too often, deer crossing the highway will unexpectedly reverse direction when they reach the opposite side, heading straight into your moving vehicle.

“Think about what action you would need to take if a deer or elk suddenly bolted across your path,” Berry said. “Keeping wildlife in mind, paying extra attention and slowing down will help you avoid a collision with an animal on the road.”

Special wildlife crossing

In some cases grade-separated wildlife crossings have been constructed to channel animals over or under busy highways, typically using large culverts or bridge-like structures.

“Wildlife crossings were installed along sections of U.S. 97 south of Bend and on the new stretch of U.S. 20 between Pioneer Mountain and Eddyville,” Lewis said. “Other sites are being evaluated, but conditions have to be just right for them to work.”

In Eastern Oregon, there are few sites that meet the criteria for a dedicated, grade-separated wildlife crossing. At this time, there are no plans to build any in the area.

“We will continue to look for ways to help reduce vehicle crashes with wildlife, but we mainly rely on motorists doing their part by keeping mindful that wild animals are going to be on our roadways at times,” said Lewis said.

For more information about ODOT’s wildlife crossing program, plus links to videos and related driving tips: https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION4/Pages/WildlifeCrossings.as