© 2024 KLCC

KLCC
136 W 8th Ave
Eugene OR 97401
541-463-6000
klcc@klcc.org

Contact Us

FCC Applications
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Oregon faces heightened car-wildlife collisions

Two black-tailed deer in Oregon. This fall, they enter a mating season, spurring increased movement and activity.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Two black-tailed deer in Oregon. This fall, they enter a mating season, spurring increased movement and activity.

Oregon is in its peak period for car collisions with wildlife. As elk and deer migrate for the fall and winter, they are more likely to cross roadways. Meanwhile, rain and less daylight reduce driver visibility.

Michelle Dennehy is with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. She is encouraging the public to pay attention to wildlife-crossing signs and avoid swerving at high speeds.

“You're in an area, it's dark, you can't see, there's a lot of vegetation, you see a deer. Reduce your speed, because it's going to give you a chance to react in time.”

There are more than 6,000 documented collisions in the state each year, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation. Some incidents, Dennehy said, can be fatal for drivers.

The public can salvage roadkill with a permit. In the case of an injured animal, Dennehy recommends calling Oregon State Police.

Nathan Wilk joined the KLCC News Team in 2022. He is a graduate from the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. Born in Portland, Wilk began working in radio at a young age, serving as a DJ and public affairs host across Oregon.