Deer and Elk Want to Share the Road
October 24, 2012 4:34 PM 
If you live in western Montana, this has probably happened to you. Nobody has ever explained to me the attraction of deer and elk to auto headlights. I’ve thought it may mean there’s a genetic connection between deer and moths.
Whatever the reason, deer-auto accidents are expensive to the human and deadly to the animal. This time of year (when two seasons coincide – deer mating season and general hunting season) always brings more of the conflicts to the front pages of the newspapers.
Having experienced that shocking situation a couple of times, I’ve asked Montana Highway Patrolmen how to avoid the danger. They almost always say that you should slow down – even below the posted speed limit (which is really hard for us Montanans to do).
Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials have even more tips.
There are trouble areas that have main crossings and that includes Highway 93 south of Lolo. Since December of last year, 12 elk have been hit in that stretch alone. Yes, that’s all year long – not just October and November. I’m sticking with my moth theory.
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