In two instances in the month of June, the Bonney Lake Police Department were called to hit and run collisions with deer. Both occurred on the 17700 block of state Route 410 — near the Myers Road outlet — and both required police to stop traffic while the deer was dispatched.
This is a common call for police, according to Officer Daron Wolschleger. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife reports vehicles in Washington state strike and kill hundreds of deer every year. Deer are liable to wander onto the road day or night, but crossings are more likely to occur in the evening or — as was the case in the June collisions — early morning. In Bonney Lake, the warm weather season seems to coax more of the animals into roadways, Wolschleger said.
“Especially this time of year, we see more deer coming out,” he said. “And the reason is the grass is better on the side of the road by the highway. (The deer) seem to like it better as opposed to the forest, where the grass is enclosed by trees and other growth.
“What we do as police 10 out of 10 times if a deer is struck on 410, unfortunately, we have to put the deer down. The speeds on the road are so fast that a hit means the deer is usually going to be severely injured, in a lot of pain, and the only thing to do is end (its) suffering.”
The risk of a wild animal collision can’t be totally eliminated, but there are preventive habits drivers can exercise to reduce their likelihood. Some are basic, like monitoring speed and making sure to regularly scan the road and shoulders.
“If you see one deer, always expect there to be more,” Wolschleger said. “What will happen is if a mother deer walks into the road, usually they will have a little fawn behind them. When the mother enters the road, the fawn will see and go ‘Oh, Mommy’s crossing the road, so it’s OK for me to cross.'”
Wolschleger said at nighttime shoulder visibility can be improved by using a car’s brights, if it is safe to do so.
If a collision seems inevitable, the wildlife department advises drivers to take their foot off the accelerator and brake lightly while keeping their course straight. Swerving to avoid a deer can cause more serious unintended accidents, such as hitting a guardrail, another car or rolling down a graded hill.
If an accident occurs, the driver should contact the government agency with jurisdiction over the road, or the local police department to remove the animal. Bonney Lake police will typically arrive at the scene within a few minutes, Wolschleger said. In cases such as the June collisions, in which a firearm was needed to put the injured deer out of its misery, police will block traffic on the roadway in one or both directions to ensure bystanders are safely clear of fire.
