On the drive back from Ft. Providence at the end of August I was thrilled to spot this sweet little bear eating the rose hips from the shrubs alongside the highway. When large vehicles sped past she would charge up the rocks into the bush away from the road; the sound and speed clearly disturbing. I was concerned by the speed of traffic passing her by and one vehicle in particular didn’t slow down at all when she was on the road tryig to get across.
Highway collisions have one of the most devastating consequences for animals and for people. Roadkill attracts scavengers which can lead to more deaths and more animals on or near the roadway which increases the likelihood of a collision. Animal collisions cost insurance millions so it is in everyone’s interest to reduce the chances of hitting wildlife. The easiest way to do this as a driver, is to slow down in areas marked as wildlife crossings, pay attention to the road, and drive according to the conditions. If you see a car or cars on the shoulder, slow down. Did I mention slow down? It’s the easiest and most cost-effective way of reducing collisions.
Back to bears. This bear looked really hungry and barely stopped for breath as she moved from bush to bush stripping each of their fruit. Seeing her reaction to the traffic, I wondered why she was spending her time along the ditches instead of away from the road. Perhaps the dry weather had affected the berry crop this year and there simply was a lack of other food sources. This late in the season, it’s concerning as bears should be packing on the fat for the long winter hibernation. Hopefully this gal found some suitable food and will make it through the winter safe from the charging trucks and cars on the roadway.