Deer migration and daylight saving time bring hazards to Utah drivers

Deer migration and daylight saving time bring hazards to Utah drivers

(Division of Wildlife Resources)


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SALT LAKE CITY — Daylight saving time caused clocks to spring forward Sunday morning, and while evenings will have more light, the mornings will now be darker.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has warned Utahns that lower-visibility driving early in the morning leads to higher rates of deer deaths on Utah roads and urged drivers to exercise caution on their morning commutes.

The migration period for deer is typically throughout April, May and November. The mobility of deer during this time, combined with the low-light of early morning driving in April, puts deer at significant risk on Utah roads, the DWR said.

“Deer are most active early in the morning and in the evening,” DWR wildlife migration initiative coordinator Daniel Olson added. “That lines up with commute times, unfortunately. The time when deer are most likely to be out coincides with when there are the most cars on the road.”

Deer near a road in Mapleton; Photo from the Division of Wildlife Resources
Deer near a road in Mapleton; Photo from the Division of Wildlife Resources

Wild Aware Utah offered some tips to help Utah drivers avoid collisions with wildlife during these sensitive times:

  • Be highly alert at both dawn and dusk, as deer are most active during those portions of the day.
  • When a wildlife crossing sign has been spotted, make sure to slow down and keep a careful eye out for potential hazards. These areas commonly see collisions between wildlife and cars.
  • Scan both sides of the road consistently, especially in areas with wooded places, agricultural spaces, and wetlands nearby. Invite passengers to do the same.
  • Put away any potential driving distractions.
  • Use high beam headlights when driving on roads without any other cars around.
  • Spotting one animal on the roadside means there are likely more nearby, so slow down if one has been seen.
  • Throwing food scraps out of vehicles entices animals closer to roadways, so avoid tossing trash outside.

A moose in Provo in 2016; Photo from the Division of Wildlife Resources
A moose in Provo in 2016; Photo from the Division of Wildlife Resources

What to do if an animal has been hit

  • If the car has been damaged to the point of being undrivable from the impact, it should be moved off the road as quickly as possible with hazard lights displayed.
  • Don’t get close to the injured animal.
  • The driver should call 911 if someone in the vehicle is injured or if the animal poses a threat to other cars due to its position in the road.
  • If a deer has been hit and appears to be injured but still alive, Olson suggests the driver still call 911, “And they’ll dispatch someone to take care of the animal.” “We have lots of mule deer in this state, and they are really widely distributed,” Olson said. “Our mule deer habitat covers around 50 percent of (Utah). If you’re in the mountains or foothills, you’re probably in a mule deer habitat.”

Exercising caution on roads with wildlife danger signs and high fences designed to keep deer out will help prevent the occurrence of accidents, he added. Government organizations are also working hard to solve the problem.

“The Department of Transportation and the Division of Wildlife are working together to reduce the number of animals hit,” Olson said. The organizations hope to not only make Utah roads safer for drivers but also to reduce the numbers of wild animals being killed on a daily basis.

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Cara MacDonald enjoys both engaging in outdoor recreation and writing about it. Born and raised in Utah, Cara enjoys skiing, rock climbing, hiking and camping. She is passionate about both learning about and experiencing the outdoors, and helping others to learn about and explore nature. She primarily writes Outdoors articles centering around wildlife and nature, highlighting adventure opportunities, and sharing tips and tricks for outdoor recreation.

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