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November
17, 2000 "An automobile collision with an animal can result in serious injury, or even death - last year about 200 people were injured," says Paul Allen, MPI Road Safety Manager. "The injuries sustained after hitting an animal can be severe and long lasting. There's also the very real possibility of someone being killed." The number and cost of automobile collisions with animals has risen significantly in Manitoba over the last two years, reaching $14 million in claims last year compared to $11 million in 1998, according to MPI statistics. The second-highest collision months of October and December, on average, record 800 collisions with wildlife. November is the most dangerous month because it's mating season for big-game populations, resulting in increased travel by the animals, says Bob Carmichael of Manitoba Wildlife. "The animals are very transient," Carmichael says. "Motorists should be particularly vigilant at the dusk and dawn periods. That's when animals tend to come out from under cover to feed." Three successive mild winters has allowed the big-game populations (deer and moose) to grow in numbers, explains Carmichael. In addition to a $3 million cost increase since 1998, the number of wildlife collision claims climbed by 3,000 - reaching 13,000 claims in 1999/2000 - over the last two years. Motorists in the Brandon/Westman region particularly should be on high alert. About 3,600 wildlife claims were reported in that region in 1999; more than triple the number recorded in the second-highest regions of Steinbach and Dauphin. Watching
for wildlife signs and scanning the roadside and ditches for wildlife
are valuable tips which will protect the motorist, says Allen. Contact:
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