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Welcome to SORT.org's Living With Nature Section!
Here you will find tips and information about how we as human beings can peacefully coexist with our environment and all of its precious wildlife!
Be certain to check this section often for up-to-date and valuable insights!
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Share the Road- Driving Safety Tips
Arrive alive and save a life!
Written on Friday September 3, 2010
By Sue Shaw, SORT Staff Writer
 Learn to share the road with wildlife
It’s Autumn migratory season and wildlife are on the move! Each year over a half million car/animal collisions occur. Deer are the most common animal struck but others such as elk and moose can pose even greater dangers.
It is important to slow down at night so that you are able to stop or make last-second maneuvers. Over 90% of animal/vehicle collisions occur at night. Dusk or Dawn are the most common times for the accidents to occur. Steering is faster than braking but combining the two simultaneously is important. Purchasing a vehicle with ABS brakes and learning to use them correctly can save a life.
Moose and elk are larger than deer and are the perfect height to roll over your hood which can cause serious injuries after striking your windshield. If you encounter a moose, elk or other large animal in the road, don’t honk-your-horn. They may consider it a challenge. It is much better to exercise a little patience; stop and wait for the animal to move off the road. They may move very slowly and certainly at their own pace. If it looks like the animal has decided it is there to stay for awhile, you can drive very slowly around it, provided there is enough area to give it a wide berth. For a doe or a cow one long blast of the horn may frighten them into moving off the roadway but make sure you are stopped when doing so as you can't be sure which way they will move.
Being Prepared 
No matter what time of year, you should always be prepared for an animal to dart in front of you. Wear your seat belts. At night in dark areas of the highway, use your high-beams. High-beams are more likely to cause a reflection in the animal’s eyes for quick identification. As soon as the animal is in-focus, switch to low-beans. Be aware of the seasonal migration patterns in your driving area. Remember- Animals may be encountered during the time when they are moving from summer to winter grazing areas (or back).
Also remember that Wildlife isn’t the only four footed hazard you may encounter. There are many areas such as open range areas where you may encounter lifestock on the road. Open range areas have no fences and the cow has the right of way. Also make sure you know the laws in the areas you travel.
 Hunting and Rutting Season
Hunting Season is here... And wildlife are running for their lives!
Two key factors during the fall can prove deadly for deer and your car. During the fall, deer are in their breeding or rutting season (usually late October to early December). Often times you will find deer sprinting across the highway because they are either after a female or being chased by a male. Unfortunately there is also another factor that comes into play during this time of year: The Hunter. Although many claim that "hunting" can reduce deer-auto accidents. A 2002 study by Friends of Animals found that hunting actually exacerbates roadway deer-auto accidents because hunting (gunshots) can frighten deer who dart across roadways. About half of all these collisions occur in just three months: October, November, and December - hunting season. During the autumn, the average number of deer hit by cars jumps from 550 per month to over 1,700 per month. The Erie Insurance Company in Pennsylvania found that the number of deer hit in 1997 increased five-fold on the first day of hunting season.
Nevertheless, state environmental and wildlife management agencies encourage hunting in more communities every year, using the spec of cars mangled by runaway deer to scare local communities into enacting hunting regulations in new areas and expanding hunting in areas that already allow it. This too is an opportunity for gain. Government wildlife agencies collect money when they license hunters. Add matching funds from the federal government, and hunters effectively become the clients of these agencies.
Be observant of your surroundings
There are certain areas that are more prone to wildlife crossings. If you are driving on a road that bisects the bottom of a hill and a water resource, beware of animal crossings to and from their drinking and feeding ground. If the road is lined with trees, stone walls, hedges or grass, expect all sorts of birds and small mammals and deer. They prefer the edge habitat even if it is near a busy road. During spring, summer and fall, watch out for frogs and toads who tend to cross paved roads en masse during and after rain- especially at night. Be aware of deer crossing signs. They are there for a reason. If you see a sign, you know that this is an area that is common for deer crossings. Be aware of streams and rivers in the area. Intermittent and permanent streams, rivers, slews, lakes, ponds, springs and waterfalls all attract wildlife. Man-made water sources such as setting ponds, surface drainage systems, wells, and dugouts will also attract wildlife. It is always good to be aware of natural food sources such as natural vegetation, salt licks, fish-bearing waters and prey as well as man-made food resources such as orchards, gardens, fields, pets, livestock and garbage. If there are caves, cliffs, forests, culverts and bridges in the area they might provide shelter for wildlife.
Other Wildlife-Related Motor Vehicle Accident Factors 
Although your surroundings play a key role in animal/motor vehicle encounters there are other things that can also influence this. Knowing the habitat conditions is very important. You should be aware of seasonal vegetation changes, snow depth, drought, flooding, fire and overgrazing. Be aware of the traffic in the area. Know the volume, speed, composition and factors such as time-of-day and time-of-year traffic. Drivers need to be aware of wildlife hazards, be familiar with the highway, be alert, have good driving skills and make sure your response time and actions are good. Conditions of vehicles can also play a role in this. Make sure your car is in good operating condition, and that the brakes, lights and horn are in excellent operating condition. Be aware of the highway design, roadside management and maintenance. Deer reflectors that are not in good repair or placed properly will do little to prevent a collision. If you see roadside wildlife reflectors in disrepair, call your local road department. The lunar cycle also effects animal movement. Be aware of the phases of the moon and its intensity. Human activities outside of the right-of-way such as construction, forestry, farming, mining, hunting, off-road recreation will have an influence on wildlife movement.
Animal Behavior
It is always a good idea to know something about animal behavior while driving.
Deer: Studies show that vulnerability of adults to accidents with motor vehicles varies between months. Both males and females are attracted to de-icing salts spread on roads during the winter months. More than half of all deer accidents occur during the months of September and November. The bucks are in rut, the females are excited and the presence of hunters and gunshots have them both on the verge of panic. Preferred food is frequently available first in open areas exposed to the most sunlight, bring the deer closer to the edges of roadways. When a deer crosses the road it is likely that more will follow. Does will travel with one or two fawns that may dart after their mother with no heed to their surroundings. They also tend to freeze when caught in the glare of headlights. They also tend to follow the headlights if a car skids to avoid trying to hit them.
Rabbits, Chipmunks and Squirrels: These are among the hardest animals to miss if they cross your path. They evade predators by rapidly changing direction. They also will continue to try to fool you even after you stop your car. Chipmunks and squirrels are seen in greater numbers at the end of summer. Windy conditions and the onset of fall leave edible nuts about that attract them as they prepare for the winter months ahead. They are usually seen in broad daylight. Rabbits are more prevalent during the spring and summer.
 Raccoons: These highly intelligent animals usually travel in family groups, especially during the spring and summer months. They are catnappers. They are nocturnal.
Birds of Prey:
Many hawks and owls are injured or killed in early fall. This may be attributed to fatigue due to migration and/or they may have been focusing their sights on their prey. If you swerve to avoid a predator, swerve in the direction they came from, they rarely double back. Be aware of frogs and toads crossing roadways as they make easy prey for hawks and owls.
Opossums: These animals will freeze and bare their teeth at oncoming cars. This is a natural defense mechanism. Once they realize that you are not going to attack them, they usually move on. Often times a toot of the horn will send them on their way in a hurry.
Simple Avoidance Tactics/Tips:
1. If you see an animal on the side of the road, slow down and beep your horn. Many animals become accustomed to the drone of traffic noise.
2. After seeing an animal on or near the side of the road flash your headlights on and off. Oncoming cars will surely slow down if they think there is a speed trap ahead.
3. When driving at night choose to drive on lit roads whenever possible. If you must drive on unlit roads use your high beams. Use halogen headlamps.
4. Fog lights are very helpful in illuminating the road's periphery. Also, from the reference of a small mammal that sees a car at a distance it looks as though they can cross the road beneath the oncoming car's headlights.
5. Scan both sides of the road, scan edges of roads, scan especially on the right side of the road, both the driver and the animal will have less reaction time. Don't drive on the immediate right shoulder of road, this is where most roadkills occur.
6. On warm winter night be especially careful. Many small nocturnal animals are catnappers, they will emerge from their dens during brief warm spells for food.
7. Both nocturnal and diurnal animals are most active at dawn and dusk.
8. After heavy rain watch out for frogs who will cross en masse. Also, watch for both mammals and birds attracted to the dead frogs and worms on road. Birds deserve a brake too!
9. Opossums, coyotes, raccoons and crows and other scavengers will be attracted to roadkills. Move dead animals to the side of the road with a stick or shovel only if you can do so safely.
10. Don't litter! Many animals are needlessly killed on roadsides while inspecting food and containers discarded from cars.
11. Instead of relying purely on sensory input, use analytical skills. Look for movements of trees and grass. Look for horizontal lines and glowing eyes in wooded areas where tree patterns will create mostly vertical lines. Pay attention to surrounding such as berry bushes, fruit and nut bearing trees and water sources.
12. If you see one animal on or near the road assume there are more to follow. Especially during spring and summer months when mothers are traveling with young.
Living With Nature on the Highways
Although many animal-auto collisions cannot be avoided, the chances of a collision can be minimized if we pay attention to our driving, especially during the high risk hours of the day. Remember: Do not approach an injured animal. Injured animals try to protect themselves and always have adrenaline pumping, which can lead to human injury. Wear your seat belt. Pay attention to deer crossing signs. Always remember that most animals travel in groups so if you see one others may follow. Brake firmly, but not enough to cause skidding, while keeping both hands on the wheel. Never swerve. This is the biggest cause of animal-collision-related deaths. Swerving confuses the animal about which way it should run. Drivers can lose control of the vehicle and either collide with another vehicle or run off the roadway, lending to rollovers or collisions with trees, both more dangerous than hitting the animal.
Drive safely and defensively-you will avoid collisions with other vehicles and animals. Purchase a Brake for Wildlife Bumper sticker for $2.00 (see link below) and remind others to give wildlife a chance.
Further Information:
Here are some resources for further information:
Wildlife In Crises Defensive Driving Tips
Give Wildlife a Brake Bumper Stickers $2.00
Road Trip America Driving Tips
When Species Collide
Take the time to explore the internet. There are many websites dedicated to this subject.
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