Highway 97: deer road kill

[Always Sunny]

Building 4 lane undivided highways is really hard on wildlife including deer. Other jurisdictions divide their highways so that an animal that makes it across 2 lanes isn't nearly as screwed when it realizes traffic is approaching from both directions.

ETA: I was just outside and saw something I've never seen in my yard... deer.

I guess you've never seen deer come across from the shoulder and then panic when they're faced with a divided highway/median. Sure they can gain a lot of height...when they have momentum...otherwise they tend to dart back across the same lanes they just crossed or run up and down the median trying to get out.

When I lived in Ontario we'd drive down to Minnesota. Not at all uncommon to see 20+ dead deer along the highway in a 3 hour drive. Plenty of squished bear, moose, wolves, and rabbits too. No excessive speed limits and people sped far less frequently than they do out here (it's mainly 2 lane highways with the odd passing lane).

[Glacier]

I guess you've never seen deer come across from the shoulder and then panic when they're faced with a divided highway/median.

That's exactly what I mean. As the highway becomes more busy they put a concrete median down the middle making it even worse. However, what they should have done when going to 4 lanes was to have a grass median because it negates the need for installing a concrete median.

[stephe03]

Preferable where space allows.

[kay-c]

I guess none of us has seen anyone dodge a deer and kill a person in the on coming lane . Oh wait.

[Frisk]

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[French Castanut]

Something I've always wondered.... what do we do if we hit a deer? We leave it deer and you just keep going?

What if it's half dead? I don't want to think about it but brrr you leave it as is... poor little thing suffering?

Do we call the police? What's about ICBC... I guess you have to prove you've hit a deer to get your car fixed.

& Believe me, no matter how fast, how slow you go, when they decide they jump in front of you, they jump! Especially at dawn & dusk, and for sure if you,re going down a hill.

[fall]

Something I've always wondered.... what do we do if we hit a deer? We leave it deer and you just keep going?

What if it's half dead? I don't want to think about it but brrr you leave it as is... poor little thing suffering?

Do we call the police? What's about ICBC... I guess you have to prove you've hit a deer to get your car fixed.

& Believe me, no matter how fast, how slow you go, when they decide they jump in front of you, they jump! Especially at dawn & dusk, and for sure if you,re going down a hill.

If you dont have a weak stomach you can slit its throat ( I couldnt but know of people doing that ) or run it over again. Or just leave it and they usually crawl somewhere and die. The police probably wouldnt come racing out to peachland to shoot a deer but if they are bored and have no other calls maybe.

[janalta]

The police will come out and shoot it....a wounded animal on a highway poses a further threat to public safety.

[sulchie]

This thread is making me sad....

It needs a pick-me-up....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uOidKHwA2M

[2bonline]

Saw 4 disfigured deer along Highway 97 when driving from Peachland to Pentiction yesterday morning. I've never seen this many road killed deer in my life. Is there any particular reason why so many are trying to cross the highway? Does the road need one of those animal bridges?

We can only hope the disfigured deer were not looking for modelling or photo opportunities. Deer cross roads to get where they need to be; water is usually the lure although they will try to find their way back for bed and more food. I disfigured a deer big time once with my Freightliner!

[fall]

We can only hope the disfigured deer were not looking for modelling or photo opportunities. Deer cross roads to get where they need to be; water is usually the lure although they will try to find their way back for bed and more food. I disfigured a deer big time once with my Freightliner![/quote]

Ill bet, did you have the big steel wildlife bumper shield thing and could you even be sure it was a deer after or did you notice it before hitting it!

[2bonline]

Truth be known, I saw it standing on the shoulder of the road with many other eyes glistening in the headlights. At that point I put the pedal to metal, hauled on the air horn and smiled. Penticton was only 30 minutes out. Never looked back.

[fall]

Truth be known, I saw it standing on the shoulder of the road with many other eyes glistening in the headlights. At that point I put the pedal to metal, hauled on the air horn and smiled. Penticton was only 30 minutes out. Never looked back.

I guess its the deer or panic, swerve and potentially crash or lock them up and slide a bit!