Let authorities know about highway collision with animal, rural officer advises

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This article was published 24/11/2021 (1718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For people who regularly drive in the country it is really a matter of not if, but when, they will strike a deer, skunk or some other wildlife on the highway.

While most motorists know what to do if they are involved in a collision in the city, what steps is someone supposed to take after hitting an animal?

The Springfield Police Service knows what to do and has shared its advice on social media to motorists.

Springfield police Const. Jesse Zillman said he sent out the advice on Facebook on Sunday morning shortly after having to put down a deer, his second in two days and third in three weeks.

“It appeared to have been struck by a vehicle and left suffering all night before we were made aware of it,” Zillman said Tuesday.

“It was the third deer I put down in three weeks and every one of them was left deserted on the side of the road. I run our social media, so when I got back I put it out.”

Zillman said if it’s safe to do so, drivers should check to see if the animal is alive.

“There’s no shame,” he said. “You hit a deer…. If it is (alive), let us know and we will send someone. Or, you want to call your local police to deal with it, and if they won’t, they’ll find someone who can.”

However, he said if the victim is a predator, such as a bear, you shouldn’t get out of the vehicle to check.

In the RM of Springfield drivers can call police at 204-444-4308. If they or an RCMP officer can’t get to the location, they will ask Manitoba Conservation to check it out.

Zillman said other helpful numbers are Manitoba Highways, at 204-945-8956 or hocapitalregion@gov.mb.ca for carcass pickup on a provincial road, or 204-444-2241 for carcass pickup on a road in the RM of Springfield.

People shouldn’t feel they’ll be needlessly bothering authorities.

“I would rather redirect traffic around a dead animal than go to a collision caused by the animal,” said Zillman.

If the animal is domesticated, such as cattle or horses, drivers can call Rural Animal Management Services at 204-223-5521.

Zillman said he is surprised how his advice took off on social media. By Tuesday the post had been seen by more than 1,500 people.

“You never know what will end up blowing up,” he said. “But I’m glad it is informative and people are getting something out of it.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca