When winter months and freezing temperatures come around, a silent threat appears on our highways. Vehicle-animal collisions are at their peak during winter months, posing terrifying dangers to truckers all over the nation. If you’ve seen more animals on highways recently, you’re not alone, there’s an annual rise in wildlife road accidents that all motorists need to know about.
In some states, like Colorado for example, a staggering 3,777 wildlife crashes alone were reported for last year! All around the U.S., however, the deadliest times of year are during October, November, and December.
Why are these seasons so prominent for animal crossing accidents? Two main factors come together during these months: winter migration routes compel animals downward to lower elevations, but the peak of mating season keeps them active, preoccupied, and unsteady. Learning these behavior patterns isn’t merely fascinating, it can save your life and avoid expensive truck repairs.
Learning about Wildlife Behavior and Its Effect on Highways
The season of winter migration starts with dramatic changes in patterns of animal movement throughout the. Snow and decreasing temperatures cover higher terrain with snow, and elk and pronghorn naturally set off towards lower ground where food remains abundant and the climate is less harsh. Migrations are not strolls through the park for these animals, but urgency-driven, purposeful travel across major highways and country roads that separate their historic migration routes.
The Challenge for Drivers
The timing couldn’t be more challenging for drivers. The peak mating season coincides with these migration patterns, creating a perfect storm of increased animal activity. During mating season, animals become:
More mobile as males actively search for mates across wider territories
Easily distracted by competing males and potential mates, reducing their awareness of approaching vehicles
Less predictable in their movement patterns, abandoning their usual caution when crossing open areas
This combination of biological imperatives means you’re facing wildlife crossing roadways at unpredictable times and locations. Other animals now speed ahead of cars with little warning. Bucks and bulls intent upon asserting dominance or gaining mating opportunities commonly cross roads in search of competitors or females and give you only seconds to respond. The condensed daylight hours of winter evenings mean these crossings happen regularly during dawn and evening hours—just when visibility is worst and your reaction time is least conducive to responding quickly.
High-Risk Zones for Wildlife Crashes
High risk zones exist because of specific geographical traits. Canyon routes and mountain passes naturally guide wildlife movement and create more predictable patterns of crossings. Where freeways cross traditional migration corridors or connect high-altitude summer ranges with lower winter ranges, the most intense amount of animal traffic takes place.
When you drive along these routes, your concentration should be at its best. The crossing lanes, hills, and high-density wildlife create a recipe for a catastrophe. Slowing down and remaining alert can salvage a near-miss from becoming a catastrophic crash.
Precautions To Avoid Wildlife Crashes During Driving
Obey Speed Limit For Wildlife Safety
Regarding speed limits on driving and wildlife protection, adhering to speed limits posted is not just about staying ticket-free—your greatest safeguard against road-ruining crashes. Your stopping distance and reaction time are a direct result of speed. When driving in high-risk areas where wildlife crosses the road often, driving slower provides you with that valuable extra second to react when a monster suddenly appears out of nowhere.
Stay Alert and Watch for Wildlife
Visibility and road safety accompany avoiding wildlife impacts. You must be actively searching ahead and to both sides of the road for movement. Night driving requires you to watch for eye shine—that reflective glint of animal eyes that you’ve noticed in your beam. This will usually be the first sign that wildlife is out ahead. Use your brights if you have no traffic coming toward you, and feel free to flash your headlights at oncoming traffic to let them know there are animals on or along the road.
Know How to React When You Notice Wildlife
When you notice wildlife on the road and have sufficient space behind you, the best wildlife crash advice is to stop in your tracks and activate your hazard lights. Remember that animals do not travel in units of one—if you spot one elk or deer, there are others behind it.
The first reaction is to swerve, and it’s one of the most dangerous reactions you can have. Sudden wheel jerking will throw you into traffic, off the road, or roll your car over. If you do see that a crash cannot be avoided and you can’t get slowed down safely straight and without swerving, remain in your own lane and steer your car gradually back toward the animal’s rear end to lessen the impact severity.
What to Do In Case of a Wild Animal Accident
Despite caution, accidents with wild animals can still occur. Knowing what to do in such an incident in the right way protects you and other road users.
The First Response
Call 911 – Consider this an emergency. Calling 911 after a wildlife collision guarantees you will be treated by the right people, particularly in the event that your car is damaged or you are injured.
Drive to safety – If your car is in good working condition and you get stuck on the road, drive cautiously to the shoulder via hazard lights.
Remain in your car – Never approach the animal, even if it is dead. Injured wildlife cannot be trusted and is dangerous.
Reporting Injured Wildlife
If you encounter stranded wildlife on or along the roadway, you can report it by calling State Patrol. They will take the proper measures to deal with the problem humanely.
While waiting for assistance, remain patient and composed. Check yourself and the other travelers for injuries, take a picture of the scene if it is safe enough to do so, and do not attempt to move the animal alone. The authorities are professionals.
The Role of Commercial Trucking and Vehicle Repair Services in Preventing Highway Wildlife Hazards
Commercial rigs introduce their own unique challenges while driving down highways that are lined with high-frequency wildlife. An 80,000-pound semi-truck crashing into a large elk or deer is catastrophic—bent hoods, shattered windshields, destroyed radiators, and destroyed structural frames. The cost is often more than simple fix-it expenses. Additionally, each hour a truck has to wait for repairs is an hour of lost revenue, missed deliveries, and strained client relationships.
We at I-55 Truck and Trailer Repair know how much trucking companies need a quick turnaround after wildlife crashes. Our skilled team is experienced at getting commercial trucks on the road fast without sacrificing quality or safety. We do it all, from front-end collision repair to precise diesel repair work required after collision damage is done to engine components.
Our service facilities in Crawfordsville AR, Marion, AR, Memphis TN, and West Memphis AR are strategically located where they are able to reach trucking companies traveling through local areas of heavy wildlife activity. In the event that your semi-truck is damaged in an unexpected encounter with wildlife, our trained technicians thoroughly inspect the complete extent of damage—including hidden damage that may be hard to detect.
We maintain critical components in inventory and have established supplier relationships to minimize wait times on critical components. Whether you’re faced with radiator destruction, electrical problems, or structural damage due to wildlife collision, our full-service semi truck repairs make sure your truck is up to par on all safety requirements prior to getting back on the highway.
Choose I-55 Truck and Trailer Repair
The natural elevation in wildlife activity during the season presents hazardous conditions on roads that demand your complete focus on the road. While migrating and breeding, wildlife migrates towards roads, causing thousands of accidents each peak month, putting both drivers and animals at risk.
Be vigilant by adhering to thoroughly documented safety practices like maintaining speed, remaining vigilant for movement at all times, utilizing lights wisely, and avoiding swerving. Good truck driving habits could be the difference between reaching your destination alive and being a witness in a deadly crash.
When commercial trucks damaged by wildlife are destroyed, you need a repair crew aware of the the urgency of a speedy turnaround. We at I-55 Truck and Trailer Repair is always available to have your truck back on the road as fast as possible and safely. Our well-trained specialists are trained to repair any sort of damage, from a minor fender collision to a complete crash, to ensure that your fleet gets the level of experience it warrants.
Don’t let tuck damage hold you back! Call us at (870) 635-4003 for dependable service that minimizes your downtime and keeps you safe on the road.