Moose, deer and wildlife

By the end of this topic you can

• You can identify times and places where animals are most likely on the road.
• You can scan roadsides and ditches, especially at night.
• You can slow down and respond safely when you see an animal.
• You can avoid dangerous swerves that turn a near miss into a worse crash.
• You can report a collision with a large animal.

What you need to know and understand

• Wild animals are most active between dusk and dawn, when light is poor.
• Wildlife crossing signs mark areas where animals often cross.
• If you see an animal, slow down and sound your horn; do not try to drive around it.
• Where one deer crosses, others often follow.
• Watch for shining eyes at the roadside; if you see them, slow down and be ready to stop.
• If you hit a deer or moose in Ontario, report it to the local police service or the Ministry of Natural Resources. Do not try to move an injured animal.
• Stay in your vehicle; getting out raises your risk of being hit by other traffic.

Where and when to expect animals

In these areas, reduce your speed, use high beams whenever it is possible and safe, and scan the road from shoulder to shoulder, including the ditches, not just your lane.

• Between dusk and dawn, when wild animals are most active.
• Where wildlife crossing signs are posted.
• Near forests, wetlands, rivers and farmland.
• In darkness, rain and fog, when animals are harder to see.

You see an animal: what to do

1. Brake firmly and in a straight line, checking that traffic behind allows it.
2. Sound your horn to try to scare the animal off.
3. Do not try to steer around it; animals often move in the same direction you swerve.
4. Watch for more animals following the first.
5. Once it has cleared the road, move on slowly and keep scanning.

If a crash cannot be avoided

A sharp swerve into oncoming traffic, a ditch or a tree is often more dangerous than the animal. Keep braking, hold the wheel straight and keep control. Afterwards, pull off the road safely, turn on your hazard lights, check for injuries and report the collision as your province requires. Stay in your vehicle if the animal is nearby and alive; a hurt animal can be dangerous.

Common mistakes

• Driving at full highway speed at dusk through signed wildlife areas.
• Watching only your lane and missing an animal in the ditch.
• Swerving hard and losing control.
• Speeding up after one deer crosses, without expecting another.
• Getting out to check on an injured animal.

Test yourself: Moose, deer and wildlife

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

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