The Northern Peninsula RCMP say they have responded to 13 moose-vehicle collisions with two taking place on Wednesday.
Two people were taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries after the vehicle they were driving collided with a moose near St. Anthony on Route 430. Later that day another vehicle collided with a moose near Rocky Harbour, with no injuries reported.
The 13 collisions between July 4 and Aug. 2 resulted in a range of injuries from minor to serious.
Most outfitters say they are seeing less moose this year, which flies in the face of the police reports of more moose collisions.
Barbara Genge, outfitter at Tuckamore Lodge, in Main Brook, just south of St. Anthony, said nothing is certain when it comes to moose behaviour, but did say climate could have something to do with it.
She said the hot, dry summer we are experiencing could be making the moose come out to the roadways to be in open spaces to cut down on insect bites.
“We see moose all the time with big welts on their legs from all the fly bites they’re getting in the woods,” she said.
“It’s a very dry summer and there are more insects in the woods, so the moose could be looking for more open spaces to get away from the bugs.”
Genge added that driver behaviour seems to be lacking from her observations.
“Drivers have their responsibilities too. I see people driving too fast through areas known for moose all the time,” she said. “I see people driving 120, 140; when I drive through those areas I go 60.”
Police are asking drivers, both local and tourists, to slow down as they drive on Newfoundland highways.
phutchings@thewesternstar.com
Twitter: WStarDeerLake
