Robert Belley credits a set of metal bars on his truck with saving his life.
“I realized we hit something … I could still see the moose trying to walk across the highway. He was still alive and then after that, pain came crashing in,” Belley remembers.
In 2024, he and his wife collided with a moose near Lanigan on a fall evening.
Now, two years later, he struggles to use his left hand, preventing him from doing construction work and facing challenges in replacing his lost income.
Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) is raising awareness about the risks of wildlife collisions during this period when more moose and deer are crossing roads.
The provincial insurance company reports around 8,800 wildlife-related collisions annually, resulting in an average of 400 injuries and two fatalities over five years.
Belley emphasizes the need for individuals to take the dangers of wildlife collisions more seriously.
“It’s not a joke. It can seriously, permanently hurt you. It can actually kill you. People need to actually slow down on these highways,” he urges.
Troy Corbett, SGI’s director of traffic safety community engagement, notes that fall is a peak period for wildlife collisions, particularly involving deer.
“It’s the time of year when they may be more active in traveling, possibly on routes they’re not familiar with,” Corbett explains.
To prevent accidents, individuals are advised to exercise caution when wildlife activity is high, reduce speed, watch for animal signs near roads, and use high beams when necessary.
“If a collision is unavoidable, we just recommend that you stay calm, slow down, and steer away from the animal,” Corbett advises.
SGI also suggests steering toward where the animal came from rather than its current direction and exercising extra caution during times of increased glare like dawn and dusk.
Deer and coyotes most commonly involved in collisions, rescuer says
Bonnie Dell, executive director of the Wildlife Rescue Society of Saskatchewan, witnesses the impact of wildlife collisions firsthand.
Years ago, she coordinated the rescue of an adult coyote struck by a vehicle outside Regina at night.
“[The driver] knew she hit something but didn’t realize it was still in the grille of her car when she pulled into her driveway.