Idahoans on the road should pay extra attention while driving to avoid wildlife this winter.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game issued a warning last week that winter is especially dangerous for both drivers and the wildlife that might cross roads, such as deer, moose and elk.
A statement on their website said hitting elk or deer is hazardous to drivers and passengers. It also has the potential to cause thousands of dollars in damage.
Because of this, IDFG advises extra caution to avoid hitting the wildlife, if possible.
And with the bad roads that come with winter weather, that means driving very carefully.
“If you try to slow down too quickly on an icy road, that can actually send you sideways and then lose control and then get off the road, and oftentimes that can cause a much greater damage than it would if you were just going slowly and kind of having quite a bit of distance to slow down,” said James Brower, the regional communications manager for the Upper Snake Region of IDFG.
His top advice to drivers is not to tailgate. Brower said you never know when someone will need to slow down for wildlife. Keeping a safe distance reduces the risk of rear-ending someone who slows down.
“Just look for those wildlife on the road, knowing that wintertime is pretty common for them to be down in the valleys in different places that you may not expect them,” Brower said.
Of all the roads in Eastern Idaho, Brower said those with the highest risk of wildlife are Highway 33 and I-15 north of Idaho Falls. But anywhere people drive fast is at an increased risk.
“People do hit animals on the highway fairly often. Then more particularly at dawn and dusk when you're driving, you need to be a little bit more aware,” Brower said.
Brower said that while wildlife is to be expected in rural areas, drivers sometimes completely let down their guard while driving in more suburban or city areas.
“Just be aware that no matter where you're driving, there's always a possibility of running into wildlife in Idaho,” Brower said.
IDFG posted a list of tips to help drivers exercise caution on the winter roads. A few highlights include:
High beams are helpful in spotting wildlife, but don’t blind other drivers to potential wildlife by leaving your brights on.
Once you’ve seen an animal, slow down and watch, there are likely more.
Different animals have varying levels of visibility, with moose being very difficult to spot in the dark. Watch for glowing eyes.
Be aware of posted wildlife crossing signs. They are there for a reason.
Like Brower said, if you see animals on the road, slow down safely. Don’t swerve or skid off the road. IDFG says this is how most serious accidents involving wildlife happen.
Sometimes drivers end up hitting an animal, despite exercising this caution. It is not uncommon to kill the animal when you hit it.
If you hit an animal, IDFG says you have 24 hours to self-report your roadkill. You can report animals that you or someone else hit at idfg.idaho.gov.