Although accidents with elk occur year round, the study shows that about 70 percent of accidents with elk occur during the fall and winter months. Deer accidents occur at a relatively steady rate, with a small increase in accidents in the fall months and a small decrease in the winter months, according to the study. In addition, the study indicates that elk accidents have been increasing since 1990. Bill Purtymun of the Laboratory's Emergency Management and Response Group said he is urging motorists to be wary of animals on the road, and he reminds motorists that collisions with animals can result in death or serious injury. The numbers are out there and they don't lie.
Drivers can damage their vehicle, or injure or kill an animal or themselves.
Drivers can spend time recovering from their injuries due to an accident or spend money repairing their vehicle, or they can slow down on their way to and from work. It's really their choice. When an animal is killed in an accident, personnel in the Ecology Group oftentimes will take samples and analyze them for radionuclides and other substances. They haven't seen above-background levels of radionuclides in elk samples collected so far. In addition, Biggs and Kathy Bennett, also from the Ecology Group, are trapping elk and deer so they can put collars on the animals to track herd movements.