A campaign by Saskatchewan Government Insurance and the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation is focusing on “giving wildlife a break”.
Now in its 23rd year, “Give Wildlife a Brake” helps raise awareness when it comes to safety on Saskatchewan’s roadways when more wildlife is present.
According to SWF, the mild winter we experienced has presented an increase in deer populations, raising the risk of collisions on highways.
Tyler McMurchy with SGI explained how wildlife are most active during this time of year.
“During May and June, animals are drawn to ditches for road salt and to escape biting insects. They are especially active during the late fall and early winter during mating season and migration,” he said.
“When it comes to dawn and dusk, they are particularly troublesome for potential wildlife collisions.”
In 2018, SGI reported over 14,000 collisions involving wildlife, including 525 collisions with moose and 12,401 collisions with deer.
SGI received nearly $83-million in wildlife collision claims during 2018.
McMurchy is reminding motorists to never swerve if animals come close to a collision , as it may result in serious injuries to yourself.
