25 bears hit by cars in Yosemite,10,000 deer killed in state; how to avoid them

Every now and then, there comes a moment where you hear something so outrageous that it feels like you’ve been grabbed by the ears and lifted right off the ground.

One of those moments came last week in a memo from Yosemite National Park that reported that 25 bears have been hit by cars this year in the park. That’s one for every week of summer. In addition, about 10,000 deer a year are hit and killed on California roadways.

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http://blog.sfgate.com/stienstra/2014/10/29/25-bears-hit-by-cars-in-yosemite10000-deer-killed-in-state-how-to-avoid-them/

Not exactly rocket science, but the numbers surprised me. And I have to confess that when I've already driven 3-4 hours across the Valley to get to a trailhead, I don't drive as slowly as I could on the final approaches...

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3 replies	Author	Time	Post
25 bears hit by cars in Yosemite,10,000 deer killed in state; how to avoid them (Original post)	petronius	Oct 2014	OP
I think this is also "rutting season" where the boy deer seek out and approachthe girl deer and ---	Hoppy	Oct 2014	#1
I think they need the $1,000 fine	Politicalboi	Oct 2014	#2
My car and a deer got into it last year	packman	Oct 2014	#3

Response to petronius (Original post)

Wed Oct 29, 2014, 07:49 PM

Hoppy (3,595 posts)

1. I think this is also "rutting season" where the boy deer seek out and approachthe girl deer and ---

actually, they don't just approach. Rather, they will run across the nearest highway and into your car to chase the nearest girl deer.

That is why this time of year requires extra care.

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Response to petronius (Original post)

Wed Oct 29, 2014, 08:26 PM

Politicalboi (15,189 posts)

2. I think they need the $1,000 fine

And a speed monitor on the road to show your speed. If the speed is faster than 30 mph and if you don't slow down to 25 before you get to it, a camera takes your picture, and you can't leave the park till you pay or sign the ticket. There should be a 5 mph chance to slow down.

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Response to petronius (Original post)

Wed Oct 29, 2014, 10:31 PM

packman (16,184 posts)

3. My car and a deer got into it last year

about this time. Going the speed limit on a back country road and I came up on a buck standing on the side of the road with two deer. Guess he didn't want to sit down and talk about it in a civilized manner so he slammed into the side of my car destroying the front right light and battering the fender. I pulled over to access the damage and looked for the deers, but they disappeared into the woods. Luckily the car was still drivable and we limped home.
Still feel sorry I hit the deer, but he wanted to show his stuff , I guess.
The insurance didn't cover the cost of repair on the 10yr. old van, so I went out and got a new car. Sure makes you a bit afraid to travel on back roads at night though.

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