Rise in Wildlife Accidents on Country Roads: How to Stay Safe

The autumn months of October and November, as well as April and May, see the most accidents involving wildlife on the region’s roads. By the end of September alone, the Neustrelitz police station counted 384 accidents involving wild animals. In the Woldegk area there were 533, according to the Friedland police station. In the same period last year, there were seven fewer wildlife accidents recorded in Neustrelitz and 30 more cases in Friedland.

Be particularly careful on country roads

However, caution is advised all year round. Collisions with wild animals occur again and again, especially on country roads that run along confusing forest or field edges or lead directly through the forest. The police therefore recommend, as far as possible, to schedule trips outside of the main times. These are usually between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. and between 10 p.m. and midnight. It is advisable to drive carefully and with foresight. “The basic rules apply, especially when there is game on the road: brake, grip the steering wheel firmly and under no circumstances undertake spontaneous evasive maneuvers at relatively high speeds.

If there is still “time” and the vehicle can be brought to a stop before coming into contact with the game: dim it down and, if necessary, try to scare away the game with acoustic or visual signals such as a horn or flashing headlights,” explains Police Chief Inspector Andre Böttcher from the Neubrandenburg Police Department.

What to do in the event of an accident involving wildlife

If a collision with a wild animal does occur, you should secure the scene of the accident. Once you are sure of your own integrity, you should check the damage to the vehicle. It should be checked whether the vehicle is still ready to drive. Furthermore, the accident vehicle must be examined to see whether it is leaking fluid, according to the police.

According to ERGO Insurance, anyone who simply leaves wild animals that have been hit after an accident without reporting them is committing a hit-and-run and violating the Animal Welfare Act. “In principle, wildlife accidents do not have to be reported, but insurance companies often want the accident to be recorded by the police and the accident to be reported promptly,” says von Böttcher. If an animal has been hit and injured in an accident, you should definitely exercise caution as it can have unforeseen reactions.

Do wildlife warning devices bring anything?

According to the ADAC, if the animal is still alive after an accident involving wild animals, the hunter or veterinarian will be given the reprieve. If the animal is injured or dead and its location is hindering further traffic, the police or the person authorized to hunt should definitely be informed so that animal welfare and traffic safety can be taken care of, Böttcher informs. “If you continue your journey but want to report the accident later, we recommend photographic documentation of the damage and the game, and the exact accident site should also be noted,” he says. The police were unable to make any statement about the extent to which game alarms, which are attached to the vehicle and are intended to scare away animals with a beep, are effective.

Deer most commonly affected

Deer are the most frequently affected by wildlife accidents nationwide, with around 200,000 documented animals, followed by wild boars with 31,000 animals. Almost 50 percent of the wild animals that are run over are deer. 10 percent each are affected by brown hares and rabbits and small mammals such as hedgehogs, martens and domestic cats. This is shown by evaluations of the animal discovery cadastre of the German Hunting Association (DJV).