Richard Froese
September and October is an ideal time to travel and drive around and take in the wonderful colours of the leaves on the trees. Many landscapes are magnificent and postcard-picture perfect.
While driving at this time of year, beware of the wildlife. Even in the daylight!
I found that out quickly while I was on a short holiday from Sept. 10-14 when my brother and I spend time in Westlock and travelled around the region. It happened on our first full day – Sept. 11 – around 11:11 a.m. We were travelling on Highway 33 northbound about 20 km south of Barrhead when – out of the blue – we saw a huge moose on the left.
It was the most life-threatening encounter with wildlife I have ever experienced driving in Alberta and my home province of British Columbia.
The area was in complete shade with tall trees on both sides of the highway. The road slightly curved to the right. The banks of the highway were rather steep. Almost instantly, I saw the head of the monster moose out of the corner of my left eye. I immediately hit the brakes without skidding or swerving and came to a sudden stop with the moose standing against the fender of my comparatively small Ford Focus car.
Neither my brother nor I made any alarming noises when the animal approached us.
When I’m driving and I notice an animal threatening my way, or in winter when it appears the road ahead could be slippery or dangerous, I state a loud “No” as some way claim my ground.
For more than 20 years that my brother and I have travelled by car and he sees wildlife on the side of the road, he warns me by simply calling my name – Rich!
But from what I recall about my meeting with the moose, neither of us declared our warnings. We simply stayed calm and let the moose walk across the highway as the animal tapped his foot on my fender as it proceeded into the bush on the right.
Fortunately for us, we were the only vehicle in the area – no vehicle coming toward us and in the southbound lane and no vehicles immediately behind us.
Fate was on our side. If we had arrived at the point in the highway one second earlier, it could have been more serious. Considering the animal weighed about 700 pounds, it could have landed on the windshield and rolled onto the front seats in the car and serious injured – or likely killed – the two occupants in the car – me and my brother.
I never even thought of swerving to the right, which would have likely rolled the car and caused serious damage and injuries – and even death.
Situations like that can certainly be life changing. Just when you’re driving down a highway at around 100 km/h and thinking everything is safe, life can quickly change – or end – in an instant.
Many other people have faced similar situations while travelling on highways and had a worse result. Stories are told about people who have died, or become paralyzed and left immobile for life.
It reminds us that life can be so fragile.
As wildlife can be more prevalent along the roads and highways in the fall, motorists must be more aware of their surroundings in wildland areas.
It’s almost like driving in the winter with unpredictable road conditions and weather. You never know when a hazard may suddenly appear.
Watch out for wildlife! Keep everyone safe and alive!
Drive safely and slow down!