Now the rutting season begins in the forest and fields – the buck and the goat have eyes only for each other. For motorists this can be fatal. What should you take into account in case of accidents with wild animals?
Head bowed, head elsewhere. This is how experienced hunters describe the behaviour of the deer in the coming weeks. The rutting season begins at the end of July. And love literally makes the otherwise vigilant forest dwellers blind – except to each other. The hormonal fluctuations are experienced during wild hunting parties, when the bucks drive the goats across the fields.
15,000 deer die on roads in Lower Austria
“This aimless behavior increasingly causes the game to move at high speed on roads,” emphasizes state hunter Josef Pröll and calls on motorists to react with greater caution. In any case, deer are considered the most endangered game in the country by road traffic. The local hunters substantiate this with concrete figures: every year at least 30,000 wild animals in Lower Austria fall victim to motorized vehicles. About half of them are deer.
Wildlife warning systems have been installed
The hunters are doing their part to ensure that deer and drivers can coexist safely. 125,000 optical and 6,350 optical-acoustic game warning devices have already been installed in 485 areas along 1,800 kilometres of country roads.
Always report accidents involving wild animals to the police
But what should you do if this happens? If a collision with a deer is imminent, the driver should brake hard and hold the steering wheel firmly. “Avoidance maneuvers pose too great a risk to car occupants and other road users,” experts advise. If the accident has already occurred, secure the scene of the accident and call the police!
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
