1. 1 Prevention of Wildlife Strikes for Professional Drivers

2. Safety culture and the Normative behaviour we can develop: Safety culture and the Normative behaviour we can develop:

3. 3 Prevention ► ► We conducted a Survey on vehicle wildlife collisions found that there were driving habits and driver characteristics that were more conducive to preventing collisions. The study also found some common quotes from drivers who had hit deer.

4. 4 Quotes from Drivers who have hit wildlife: ► ► “I didn’t see the second one” ► ► “I didn’t think it was going to run onto the road” ► ► “I assumed it would run off the road” ► ► “I took my eyes off the road for just a second to...(adjust radio, sip coffee, etc, etc) and it just appeared” ► ► “I was doing the speed limit”

5. 5 Safety Check ► Doppler Effect of Sound; the sound of tires on pavement or engine is behind you which confuses the animals. ► Light at Dusk : especially Deer have highly sensitive Vision, Headlights probably look like the sun and they just stand there.

6. 6 How to Avoid Wildlife Incidents  Understand the Wildlife Season  Know the type of Wildlife  Know your area  Train your eyes  Reconsider your Road Radar 6

7. 7 Know the Season “The Rut” typically lasts 2 weeks but can occur anytime during the month depending on weather, moon phase and day length.“The Rut” typically lasts 2 weeks but can occur anytime during the month depending on weather, moon phase and day length. The main key is weather, if your travel day falls during the rut a day with rapid barometric drop (i.e.: gets very cold very fast – “a front is moving in”) will be a high movement day.The main key is weather, if your travel day falls during the rut a day with rapid barometric drop (i.e.: gets very cold very fast – “a front is moving in”) will be a high movement day. Males will move all day non-stop on the peak rut daysMales will move all day non-stop on the peak rut days “The Rut” typically lasts 2 weeks but can occur anytime during the month depending on weather, moon phase and day length.“The Rut” typically lasts 2 weeks but can occur anytime during the month depending on weather, moon phase and day length. The main key is weather, if your travel day falls during the rut a day with rapid barometric drop (i.e.: gets very cold very fast – “a front is moving in”) will be a high movement day.The main key is weather, if your travel day falls during the rut a day with rapid barometric drop (i.e.: gets very cold very fast – “a front is moving in”) will be a high movement day. Males will move all day non-stop on the peak rut daysMales will move all day non-stop on the peak rut days

8. 8 Maximum Movement Male ungulates (Deer, Moose, Elk) will maximize their movements during the rutMale ungulates (Deer, Moose, Elk) will maximize their movements during the rut ► Elk – Mid Sept – Mid Oct ► Moose – End Sept – End Oct ► Deer – November ► Consider the time of year and what travel patterns animals will likely make before you travel.

9. 9 RUT: X= Strikes, Y=Time of Year ► Elk – Mid Sept – Mid Oct ► Moose – End Sept – End Oct Deer – November Statistics - Canada

10. 10 Incidents :Type of Wildlife Statistics - Canada

11. 11 DEER = 81%

12. 12 Deer 2 species (Mule deer and Whitetail) act differently2 species (Mule deer and Whitetail) act differently ► Mule deer are more social, tend to travel in groups ► Whitetail are more solitary. In spring of year does travel with fawns. Fawns will lag behind the doe

13. 13 Safety Check ► If you see an animal on one side of the road, check the other side, especially if the animal is looking over its back across the road, it is likely waiting for more animals. ► Young deer will stay focused on their mother, not on the danger of their surroundings; if she ran safely across they will do the same despite your proximity change.

14. 14 DANGER:VEGETATION ► When trees or Brush come close to the road the Driver cannot respond quickly enough to avoid a collision. ► Where vegetation has been cleared 40 meters to the side of the road we seldom see Deer Collisions. (cite: Found R., Boyce M.,)

15. 15 MOOSE = 7% MOOSE = 7% KING OF THE FOREST WILL MOVE IF IT WANTS TO. KING OF THE FOREST WILL MOVE IF IT WANTS TO.

16. 16 Safety Check: Know the type of Wildlife Moose During the rut males will be alone and on the move or may have a harem of cows with them. In the winter they will herd up regardless of sex.During the rut males will be alone and on the move or may have a harem of cows with them. In the winter they will herd up regardless of sex. Spring bulls will form bachelor herds and will feed for the rut. (May is a high movement time as they spread out for fresh feed)Spring bulls will form bachelor herds and will feed for the rut. (May is a high movement time as they spread out for fresh feed) If they are with cows they will stay close and are protective of them. If encountered like this they may not back down from your vehicle choosing to challenge instead.If they are with cows they will stay close and are protective of them. If encountered like this they may not back down from your vehicle choosing to challenge instead.

17. 17 Birds = 6%

18. 18 Bird Strikes ► Happen at Dusk or Dark: Predators ► During Early Morning and Dusk: Migration ► The bigger Birds usually end up in the Seat next to you or on your lap. ► Some are feeding on the Deer that was hit earlier in the morning.

19. 19 Bear = 4%

20. 20 Bear Tracks ► Non –Existent in Winter ► Spring: Dependant on the weather ► Summer: Heavy Movement Early Morning or Dusk. ► Fall: Feeding for Winter heavy Movement

21. 21 ELK = 2%

22. 22 Elk Characteristics ► RUT: Elk – Mid Sept – Mid Oct ► Tend to stay near Water. ► In the National Parks they are almost domestic but are unpredictable during the RUT.

23. 23 Domestic

24. 24 PREVENTION ► There is signage for all types of Wildlife. ► The Signs are well coded.

25. 25 Light Conditions at time of the Incidents Statistics - Canada

26. 26 Time of Day Game movements will differ by season and time of day.Game movements will differ by season and time of day. ► The hour around dawn and dusk are the heaviest movement times (half hour before and after sunrise or Sunset). ► What time is sunrise or sunset, do I have to travel one hour before or one hour after these times?

27. 27 Safety Check: Driver Fatigue ► There seems to be a correlation between the Animal Strikes and Fatigue. ► The frequency of Animal Strikes and time or light conditions.

28. 28 Time of Day- Fatigue and Crashes…

29. 29 What Do We Mean By Fatigue? ► Reduced Attention ► Increased Reaction Time ► Impaired Physical/Mental/Performance ► Reduced Ability To Integrate Information ► Irritability, Short Fuse ► Reduced Ability To Respond Appropriately To Complex, Stressful Situations ► Spontaneous Sleep

30. 30 Why Worry About Fatigue? ► Fatigue can lead to errors ► Fatigue increases the risk of serious accidents ► Driver Safety can be improved by managing fatigue

31. 31 Strike Location Statistics - Canada

32. 32 Spot Wildlife sooner  Often it is almost impossible to spot a well hidden animal, their eyes are perfectly symmetrical and reflective of light in day and night.  You can train your eyes to become attuned to small dark round objects as well. You can often spot an animal by it’s eye alone.

33. 33 KNOW YOUR AREA You can reduce your chances of a wildlife encounter by knowing the type of wildlife in your area of travel and how to react to the conditions, slow down. Eg. During Planting or Harvesting there will be more wildlife on the move from the Farm Machinery

34. 34 Know the type of Wildlife Here are mule deer, how many do you see? 34

35. 35 Know the type of Wildlife 35

36. 36 Train your eyes

37. 37 Reconsider your Road Radar ► What is the moon phase and how will it effect their movement? ► What season am I in and how will it affect the animals? ► Is it hunting season and are hunters pushing animals around increasing the chance of encounters on roads or highways? 37

38. 38 Radar ► Will I be driving through wooded areas or old farmsteads on my travel route? Identify key movement areas as you drive. ► Animals on the road are unpredictable, keep your vehicle straight, and make noise to get the animal moving out of the path of your vehicle. Slow down or stop if safe to do so.

39. 39 Radar (cont.) ► How did that animal react to the car in front of me? Be prepared and do not assume the reaction will be the same for you. The above points are not proof against a collision with an animal, but in Assessing and analyzing the risk allows you to ensure you are acting safely.

40. 40 Characteristics of Driver’s who don’t hit wildlife: ► ► Use high beams whenever possible ► ► Scan the ditches for movement and eyes ► ► Slow down in areas of known deer activity ► ► Recognize high population areas

41. 41 Characteristics of Driver’s who don’t hit wildlife: ► ► Recognize road/bush characteristics that will attract deer ► ► Slow down even when the deer is not on the road ► ► Always anticipate more than one deer and expect erratic movements ► ► Recognize the glow of the eyes in the headlights ► ► Plan their drive to avoid ‘deer rush hour’

42. 42 Personal Protective Equipment ► Moose Bumpers ► Yellow Tinted Glasses for Adverse Conditions ► Night Vision Cameras

43. 43 How to Avoid Wildlife Incidents  Understand the Wildlife Season  Know the type of wildlife  Know your area  Train your eyes  Reconsider your Road Radar 43

44. 44 Evasive Maneuvers ► Brake effectively. ► AIR-HORN ► Company Policy Dictates ► Dangerous Goods ( eg. Liquid): Hold the Line and Stay in your lane. ► PDIC: Go Right to edge of shoulder. ► Do not go off the road or try to pass the deer.

45. 45 Proper Documentation & Secure area ► Pictures ► Accident Report ► Danger to public if Carcass is left on road ► Emergency Procedures (Company) ► Proper Placement of Triangles marking Incident. ► Evidence (Be Careful): the animal does not have to be chained to the truck.

46. 46 Contributors ► Don Chapman ; Canadian Freightways ► Ray Hamel; Imperial Oil ► Kim Hrushenski; Partners in Compliance ► Rob Found; Department of Biological Sciences; University of Alberta ► Mark S. Boyce; Department of Biological Sciences; University of Alberta ► The hundreds of Professional Driver’s: I work with everyday.

47. 47 Questions?