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Heavy snowfall in early January has paralyzed parts of the country and created traffic challenges that extend far beyond slippery roads and snowdrifts. One of the most serious consequences of the snow chaos is a sharp increase in the number of wildlife collisions.
Increased snowfall leads to more deer on the roads.
Snow has fallen in large parts of the country recently, and the challenges have been many. In southern and eastern Norway, demanding weather conditions have led to a number of accidents, skids and delays in public transport. Snow removal crews have been working tirelessly to keep the roads open, while insurance companies are reporting a surge in roadside assistance cases from desperate car owners.
One of the most serious consequences of the snow chaos is the increase in the number of wildlife collisions. Several police districts are reporting a dramatic increase as a result of the heavy snowfall.
– Heavy snowfall causes moose and deer to move down from the heights into the valleys. They do this to find food, and it is much easier to move on plowed roads and railway tracks than to backtrack in deep snow. Therefore, we also expect more collisions, senior researcher Erling Johan Solberg at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) tells Hjorteviltportalen .
Senior researcher Erling Johan Solberg at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research says that snow conditions are particularly challenging for deer. Moose cope better, but when the snow depth passes 90 cm, it becomes difficult for them too, says the researcher.
Solberg says that deer tend to stay still in heavy snow. When the snow has settled, they start looking for food. Normally, moose and deer will avoid contact with humans, but hunger and harsh conditions can affect their behavior.
“The food is there, but it costs more to move to find it. That makes them less willing to move away from people and traffic,” says Solberg.
To reduce the risk of serious accidents, both for people and animals, it is important to take extra precautions in traffic. Given the serious situation, motorists are advised to:
Read more about obligations in the event of animal collisions.
Never before have so many animals been reported on the road. Figures from 2024 show an increase of 31%.
While the heavy snowfall has been a contributing factor to the recent wildlife strikes, wildlife strikes are a year-round challenge. Safedrive CSO (System Manager), Karl-Sigurd Cyvin, can tell of a 2024 with a record number of alerts.
– We register a very high number of alerts about animals in the roadway during a calendar year. In 2024, animals in the roadway were alerted 685,466 times on our units, which corresponds to an increase of 31% from 2023.
Safedrive users experience greater safety margins in traffic with hazard alerts. A full 85% say they have avoided accidents thanks to alerts on their Safedrive.
– Feedback from our users shows that they greatly appreciate being able to warn, and be warned, about animals on the road. Figures from our own customer survey show that a full 85% say they have avoided accidents thanks to notifications on their Safedrive. This equates to over 100,000 potentially dangerous incidents.
– Although in many cases things would have gone well without the warning, this is a clear indication that drivers experience greater safety margins in traffic. Margins that can make the difference between a normal day on the road and a very serious incident, says Cyvin.
Cyvin is clear that modern technology can make a significant difference in accident rates.
“Modern technology can play an important role in reducing wildlife collisions. Our real-time alerts about animals on the road give drivers the opportunity to be prepared and reduce speed in vulnerable areas.
– Such solutions help increase traffic safety and reduce the risk of collisions, and protect both people and wildlife.
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