Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions Increase

The Wyoming Department of Transportation is cautioning drivers about a late-summer increase in wildlife/vehicle collisions and other wildlife crossing highways.
WYDOT District Engineer Pete Hallsten of Basin says an increase in wildlife/vehicle collisions normally occurs in the fall and winter months in Wyoming, partially due to migration and shorter daylight hours. This wet spring and summer’s hot weather and green grass in the state rights-of-way, however, seems to be encouraging deer and other wildlife to move toward and across highways, according to Hallsten.
A Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper recently experienced a collision with a deer between Lovell and Burgess Junction, and Hallsten says that their maintenance personnel are seeing an increase in dead deer through the months of July and August. He says in particular, young animals of all species are prone to making mistakes, such as crossing roads, so drivers are cautioned to be extra careful.
WYDOT officials say that to stay safe, avoid swerving your vehicle, which may cause you to lose control; if you see one deer, it’s fairly certain that there are more nearby; and when you see a deer, honk your horn and flick your headlights as you reduce your speed.
If you hit a deer or other species of wildlife, drivers are urged to slow down, pull to the shoulder of the road and turn on your emergency flashers, and call the Wyoming Highway Patrol at 1-800-442-9090.