Watch for deer on roadways during peak migration seasons, darker commuting months
Utahns will gain an extra hour of sleep on November 1, when daylight saving time ends, but the time change also means that many people will have evening commutes during lower visibility hours in the months ahead, which can increase vehicle/ wildlife collisions.
During the fall and winter months, there is an increase in wildlife along the roadways, primarily due to big game animals migrating to lower elevations in search of feed. The migration periods for deer are typically April and May, and then again in October and November - which is also when the highest number of vehicle and deer collisions occur in Utah.
“The time of year with the highest risk of hitting deer in Utah is during November,” Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Migration Initiative Coordinator Makeda Hanson said. “It coincides with mating season and the annual migration of deer. Animals are crossing more roads during the migration, and male deer move around a lot more to find mates. It also doesn’t help that the daylight hours are shorter during this time of year, creating lower visibility for drivers.”
The Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative was founded in 2017 to better track and study the migration patterns of different wildlife and fish species in the state. Most of the data comes from animals wearing GPS tracking devices or from fish tagged with implanted transmitters.
“The data helps wildlife managers understand where animals are spending their time, their movement patterns, and barriers impacting their access to critical resources,” Hanson said. “All of this information helps wildlife and land managers improve habitat, increase connectivity and reduce impacts on wildlife from development and transportation.”
In 2022 the DWR, in partnership with the Utah Department of Transportation, released the Utah Roadkill Reporter app. The free app allows people to easily report the location and description of any dead animals they see on or near roads. The Utah Roadkill Reporter app uses GPS tracking technology to collect high-accuracy data on animal carcasses involved in vehicle collisions, including:
Reported animal carcasses.
Animal carcasses that have been picked up.
Pick-up routes being completed by contractors.
“Using this information we partner with the Utah Department of Transportation to ensure wildlife crossings are constructed strategically - particularly when those routes cross migration corridors or other areas with frequent collision rates,” DWR Impact Analysis Coordinator Daniel Olson said.
From January 1 to October 8, 3,738 roadkill animals were removed from roadways in Utah. Since the launch of the app in 2022, 19,441 roadkill animals have been reported. Over 60 wildlife crossing structures and hundreds of miles of fencing have been constructed throughout Utah to help reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.
What to do if you hit an animal:
Pull off the road and use your hazard lights if your car is undriveable.
Do not try to approach an injured animal.
Call 911 or contact your local police department if you were injured or if the animal is in the roadway and could pose a threat to public safety.
Submit a report of the collision through the Utah Roadkill Reporter app.
Include the species of animal that was hit, a GPS location and a photo of the animal. Never use the app while driving and try to avoid getting out of your vehicle when submitting a report, due to safety concerns along busy roads.
“When you submit a report of a roadkill animal through the Utah Roadkill Reporter app, it helps provide information about potential areas for wildlife crossings,” Hanson said. “The data collected through the app also benefits the Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative and its efforts to learn more about the annual migration patterns of different animal species in Utah.”
