Moose Accidents Increase In Spring
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Spring is a joyful time in Maine. Mainers emerge from the depths of winter to make the most of the warmer weather. But with the warmer weather comes the end of hibernation for Maine’s wildlife as well. And the end of hibernation means animals are on the hunt for food.
In Maine, the sides of the road are among the first areas to green up in the spring, offering animals a source of food after a long winter of a bland diet. The salt found along roadsides left from winter is also appealing to moose, who are likely to be spotted feeding this time of the year.
With an estimated 30,000 moose in the state, second only to Alaska, and no real system of keeping them off the road, it comes as no surprise that there are approximately 700 moose related accidents annually in Maine.
Due to their dark fur, moose are difficult to see at night, and their eyes are higher than most cars and do not catch or reflect light. With spindly legs and a powerful torso, if a car strikes a moose head-on it’s likely to break the animal’s legs, sending the body crashing through the car windshield.
On average, an adult bull moose weighs as much as 1,600 pounds and stands 8 or 9 feet tall.
The peak time of the year for collisions between vehicles and moose is in May and June, with Aroostook County reporting the highest number of moose-car related crashes, followed by Piscataquis and Franklin counties. The lowest number of moose-car crashes is along the coast of Maine, where deer are more prevalent. However, crash statistics show that most accidents occur between dawn and dusk, when both moose and motorists are on the move, on dry straight roads throughout the state.
In an effort to educate Mainers on moose related accidents, the Maine Department of Transportation offers the following tips for driving during peak moose season:
- Be alert from dawn to dusk. That’s when the majority of moose related accidents occur.
- Use high beams whenever permitted.
- Reduce speed and scan the roadside when driving at night.
- Take notice of any warning signs such as moose crossing signs or the reflection or shadows of animals.
- Expect to see other moose when you see one, as they often travel in families.
- If a moose is stopped in the road, do not get out of your car. Give the moose room and it will eventually return to the woods.
Moose related accidents are often unavoidable and fatal. Some of the steps the state has taken to reduce car-moose crashes include:
- Warning signs.
- A public education campaign that includes posters, brochures and educational videos.
- Fencing along roadways, including Interstate 95.
- Cutting and applying herbicide to roadside vegetation to reduce sources of food.
- Painting wider reflective lines marking the edge of the roadway in areas highly populated with moose such as Greenville and Rangeley.
- Expanded moose hunts.
If a crash is unavoidable, motorists are advised to:
- Apply the brakes and let up just before impact.
- Aim to hit the back end of the animal if possible.
- Duck to minimize injury.
Spring is a joyful time in Maine, but that goes for both Mainers and our wildlife. So the next time you’re out driving, act like a tourist and be on the lookout for Maine’s beloved state animal, knowing full well it could save both your life and the animal’s life.
For more information on moose related car accidents please visit: http://www.theheartofnewengland.com/lifeinnewengland/Tips/moose-driving-tips.html.
