As autumn deepens and daylight hours shorten, the German Hunting Association (DJV) is urging drivers to report all collisions with wildlife to the police, even when there appears to be no damage to vehicles. This call to action stems from the concern that injured animals often retreat into nearby undergrowth, where they may suffer needlessly.
According to DJV President Helmut Dammann-Tamke, specially trained dogs employed by hunters can be used to locate these animals and provide humane assistance. The association emphasizes that collisions with deer, roe deer and wild boar occur, on average, every two and a half minutes across Germany.
To mitigate the risk of such incidents, Dammann-Tamke is advising drivers to reduce their speed on rural roads. He notes that wildlife will not adhere to traffic laws and that decreasing speed from 80 km/h to 100 km/h can shorten braking distance by 25 meters, potentially saving lives.
The DJV is particularly urging increased vigilance among drivers travelling on country roads and near wooded areas, as these locations often represent vital habitats and crucial pathways for wildlife. Drivers are reminded that these areas function as essential feeding and resting grounds for animals.