It’s the time of year when it’s more likely for a driver to encounter deer on the road, but do you know what to do if you see one?
Shocking video released this week from a Minnesota police car shows just how easy it is to hit the animals. The deer looks like it appears out of nowhere since the Isanti County deputy was travelling at 114 miles per hour.
Pictures show extensive damage to the police vehicle, but luckily, the police officer wasn’t hurt.
But State Farm Canada warns that not all Canadians are aware of what to do if you see an animal in your path.
That’s concerning according to State Farm, as November is the month with the most reported deer collisions, followed by October and December.
According to a poll of 3,061 Canadians that State Farm conducted in March 2017, 30 per cent of respondents said they had hit a small animal while on the road while 25 per cent said they had either hit or nearly hit a large animal.
About one in three drivers said they wouldn’t feel confident about their choices of what to do if they saw an animal on the road.
“The unpredictability of these situations, combined with human impulses to try to preserve the lives of these animals makes these situations difficult and dangerous,” John Bordignon, State Farm Canada spokesperson, said in a release.
WATCH: Video shows dog rescuing baby deer floating in waters off Long Island
Here are some common questions about wildlife and road safety
Should you swerve to avoid animals?
While around one-quarter of those polled by State Farm said they would swerve to avoid wildlife in the path of their vehicle, the Wildlife Roadsharing Resource Centre (WRRC) says that’s not a good plan.
“If a large animal is on the road directly in the path of the driver, the best course of action is to drive straight and firmly apply the brakes,” officials wrote in a tip sheet.
They say the exception is moose, which are too large and could injure the occupants of the vehicle.
“If drivers are not at risk of hitting another vehicle or losing control of their own vehicle, they should aim their vehicle towards the flanks of the moose.”
For small animals, people should remember that it’s better to hit the animal rather than put human lives at risk.
Should you honk your horn?
One-third of respondents said they would honk their horn when approaching wildlife on the road.
But the WRRC warns that sometimes honking (or flashing your headlights) will startle animals to run across the road or into traffic instead.
What do you do after a collision?
The WRRC says you should report collisions with wildlife, even if there are no injuries to people or property.
Along with helping with insurance claims, people should be aware of the effects a collision has on the surrounding wildlife.
An animal carcass could attract other animals onto the road, or cause problems for other drivers. If the animal survived the collision, it could be a danger to other animals or even to humans.
If it is safe to do so, Nathalie Karvonen, the executive director of Toronto Wildlife Centre, says you can transport an injured animal to your local wildlife shelter yourself. But she warns that an injured animal who bites, or a bird with a hard beak could be dangerous.
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