Avoiding wildlife collisions
Where I live in western Canada, the prime time in motorcycling season for wildlife to be moving is the first two hours after sunrise, and the the last two hours before dark. That is the highest hazard time for critters to be crossing the road. The big ones, like mountain sheep, deer ,elk and moose are the obvious hazards, but I have had near misses with bears, and wild turkeys, gophers and song birds are no fun to hit either. Marmots and gophers often build their holes along highway edges, and dig under the concrete barriers, and can be seen sunning themselves, and like to run across the highway. Some of them seem suicidal.They are most active middle of the day. They are the perfect size to take out a bike.
Clues are to watch for red splash marks where bigger vehicles have hit animals, and of course roadkill. Slow way down. At dusk, eyes can shine, but this only works if they are looking your way.
My suggestion is to travel 10 or 20 km slower than usual, and avoid those times if possible. I usually have dinner about then, and don't usually travel til 7 AM or so. After dark is hazardous, and slow, and not recommended. Moose are remarkably black at night. Everyone I know has a collision or near miss story to tell, usually totalling any vehicle never mind a bike.
|