Unfortunately, deer and other wildlife are sometimes struck on Bellingham streets. In response, the local Mount Baker chapter of the Sierra Club brought the Watch for Wildlife campaign to Bellingham to reduce injury and mortality of wildlife and people on our roads. The City adapted the Watch for Wildlife campaign content for a yard sign and an educational brochure for those interested in voluntarily participating in the program. There are local sign shops or online resources available if you’d like to print a copy of the sign for your own yard.
Preventing collisions
Animal collisions happen too frequently within the City limits. This map shows the reported deer carcass recoveries from 2016-2019. Prevention is the best solution to this issue, and it is a driver’s responsibility to:
- Be particularly careful between 6 and 9 at dawn and dusk. These are the times when most collisions with vehicles occur.
- Watch your speed. Collisions with wildlife can sometimes be avoided if you have time to slow down and avoid the collision, especially on rural roads.
- Scan ahead. Scanning ahead for animals helps you see them before they are in your path. Watch especially for the light of their eyes reflecting your lights at night and use your high beam headlights when possible.
- Honk your horn. A few short horn blasts helps to alert animals to get out of the way instead of freezing in place by instinct.
- Brake to slow down (don’t swerve!). If an animal is on the road, brake gently to slow down, but don’t swerve or stop suddenly. It is important that your reaction to avoid wildlife doesn’t endanger yourself or other drivers.
- Proceed carefully. If you see an animal on or near the road, slow down slightly to see what they are going to do – they can be unpredictable – and look around for others. Animals often travel together and young animals follow their mothers. Scan around without stopping to see if there are others and then proceed cautiously.
- Flick your lights. Warn oncoming cars of the hazard ahead. Even if they don’t understand the signal to mean there is a wildlife hazard ahead, they will likely recognize you are giving a warning signal and will pay added attention.
- Don’t litter! Throwing garbage and food out vehicle windows attracts animals onto the road. It may seem innocent and harmless enough to throw an apple core or banana peel out the window because they are biodegradable; however, wildlife and birds can be attracted to food or garbage on the road, which could result in them being injured or killed.
If a collision does occur, know who to call. Keep a copy of the Whatcom County Watch for Wildlife brochure in your car.
Reporting collisions
Please report all collisions!
- If the animal is alive, call Whatcom County Humane Society Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at (360) 966-8845.
- If the animal is deceased, call Whatcom County Animal Control at (360) 733-2080.
Resources
Thank you to Sierra Club Canada for sharing information for this program.
Contacts
Public Works Office
Phone: (360) 778-7700
Email: askPW@cob.org
