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bjrogg:

--- Quote from: JEB on June 16, 2019, 04:15:48 am ---They say never swerve to avoid a deer because you may do more damage to your vehicle and self by doing so. Me, I swerve but then again I try not too drive fast anymore.

Your turtle post brought to mind the $360,000.00 tax dollars that the state of Michigan spent on a fence to keep turtles from being run over on a 1/2 mile stretch cross the rive flats in my home town. Hard to believe but this really happened.

--- End quote ---


I remember riding in our vehicle when our son was taking his driving test. I wasn't allowed to say anything just sit in the back seat and observe. We were driving down the street and a cat ran out. My son never changed anything. He didn't slow down or swerve. I heard a thump thump. Then I heard the examiner say that he did good. Not so sure the cat agreed.

I remember another time. We were digging sugar beets and it was time to call it a night. It was about 11:00 at night and we came across a brand new Camaro that had crossed the centerline and ran straight into the guard rail on our side of the road. It was heavily damaged. There was a young couple inside. They were shaken up but not seriously hurt. They said they swerved to try missing a raccoon.

I usually try to brake in a controlled fashion. I might even make a small evasive maneuver. But I'd rather hit the animal than another vehicle.

The last deer I hit I was almost completely stopped. Literally one more foot and I would have been stopped. The deer never even left his feet. He ran off and it still cost $2,470 for repairs. A whole lot of expensive plastic on the front of these vehicles.

I understand what your saying though Marc. Many times it seems like the animals could be avoided. Sometimes it's easily avoided and sometimes it's not.

Bjrogg

Your story reminds me of four baby ducks that ended up on our lawn. I suspect the mother got separated from them when the neighbor cut his hay. They followed me everywhere. Cutest thing you ever saw. Tried feeding them corn and other stuff but they wouldn't eat anything. Suddenly the wind blew a few dandelion seed across the ground and they chased after them and ate them. We didn't have to feed them anything. They were still little fuzz balls but they fed themselves. They still very much craved the security of a mother who happened to become us.

Marc St Louis:
It would be excusable on a major highway.  Our road has little traffic and slowing down and/or stopping even would not have been a problem. 

After rescuing the Grouse we turned at the stop sign to go towards town, that road has more traffic, and saw a truck towing a large trailer suddenly swerve into the other lane just ahead of us, my wife kind of freaked out at that.  When we got up to where he swerved we saw why he did it.  In his lane was a small Snapper crossing the road.

bjrogg:
Yup I totally understand what your saying Marc. I always feel for those poor squirrels who survive the long cold winter only to end up getting run over on the first nice sunny day of spring.
Bjrogg

JEB:
When I worked day shift patrol I carried a pair of side cutters with me to cut the tails off squirrels that didn't quite make. I use to tie a lot of flies back then and needed the tails.

Hawkdancer:
I try to avoid animals when possible and safe, but often there isn't time!  Deer will jump at the last second, and smaller animals often bolt out in front of you.  On the other hand, there was a traffic jam of sorts when a flock of wild turkeys was crossing the highway into town.  Some of them were on each side of the road and every driver just waited for a clear lane to  get slowly through!  Hitting a bigger animal is expensive, avoid deer, elk, and moose as they do a lot of damage!  Years ago, I saw a dead cow elk that had been hit by an 18 wheeler square on - it was a draw - the truck had to be towed to Denver for repairs!  Do be careful! 
Hawkdancer

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