Last year in Manitoba, there were 17,195 wildlife-vehicle collisions reported to Manitoba Public Insurance.
November saw the most collisions with 2,019. Wildlife is especially active this time of the year along treed roads, at dusk, and dawn.
So far this year, there have been a shocking 9,419 wildlife-vehicle collisions, and Tara Seel with MPI says the worst could be yet to come.
"The numbers are very high. That speaks to the type of landscape that we have in Manitoba," said Seel. "We want to make sure Manitobans are aware that there are things that they can do to protect themselves and wildlife. We don't want any loss of life on roads."
Seel says a tip for drivers is to be alert when you see wildlife crossing signs.
"The province of Manitoba is very good at knowing where those hot spots are. Drive cautiously and watch for any movement near the brush, tall grass, or any treed areas where you are driving," continued Seel. "Slow down. I think that's guidance for most driving behaviours. If you slow down, you will be able to stop quicker, and potentially avoid a collision."
You can get your passenger to help with scanning the road. You can also use your high beams, which can be beneficial.
However, this can cause a road safety issue. Always dim your high beams when there is oncoming traffic.
Also, keep in mind that when you see one animal, there could be more. You can always honk to encourage them to move along.
"You don't want to swerve because you could end up in a collision with an oncoming vehicle or hit the ditch and cause serious injury," ended Seel. "When we think about vehicle-wildlife collisions, we often think about deer or smaller critters. What MPI is seeing this year is an increase in bear collisions."
In 2024, there were 208 collisions with bears. This year, there have been 123. Collisions with larger animals also increase the risk of injury.
