A 3-minute lesson from the Maine course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
In Maine, cars and trucks hit moose and deer thousands of times a year. A moose is tall and heavy, and its eyes rarely shine in your headlights. Know when and where animals are most likely to appear.
Know the rule
Wildlife collisions can happen during all 12 months of the year, at any time of day.
Deer eyes reflect headlights well, but moose are so tall that you usually won't see their eyes. Watch for the reflective eyes of deer and the silhouette of a moose.
Moose and deer are most active between dusk and dawn. Be especially alert after sunset; dark animals are hard to see until they're right in front of you.
Driving at dusk in June, you see a tall dark shape at the road edge but no glowing eyes. It could be a moose. Slow down right away, don't try to swerve around it, and stay in your car until it moves off.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
During which month do deer collisions in Maine typically peak?
Early March
November
Mid-July
Late January
Answer: November
Deer collisions increase in autumn, peaking in November during breeding season.