Jump in moose collisions worries Shediac Fire Department

The Shediac Fire Department is concerned about aspike in collisions with moose between Dieppe andShediac.

"During the last seven or eight weeks we've been averaging approximately one vehicle-versus-moose collision per week, so we've been seeing that it's been quite a bit of an increase compared to previous years," said JulienBoudreau, captain of the Shediac Fire Department.

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In a typical season,Boudreausaidthe department deals with a couple of moose collisions.

"We've been seeing a high volume of moose collisions on Highway 15 between mile marker 20 and 31, which would be between the Highway 2 intersection with Highway 15, and also the Highway 11 intersection with Highway 15, so on that stretch we've been seeing an increase,"Boudreausaid.

Boudreau said the accidents have had varying outcomes, often depending on the size of the vehicle that hits the moose.

"We've had accidents with no injuries to accidents with very severe injuries and the same thing with damage," Boudreau said."We've had tractor-trailers hit moose, which caused minimal damage, andsmall vehicles that the vehicles were completely destroyed."

Warning posted

The fire department posted a warning on its Facebook site.

New Brunswick's Department of Energy and Resource Development says about 400 moose are struck a year, along16,000 kilometres of public roads.

In an email statementAnne Bull, a spokesperson with the department, said thismeans a moose collision can happen anywhere at any time.

Collisions are more prevalent in May and June, when cows give birth and push away last year's calves out on their own for the first time.

"Those animals tend to wander," Bull said.

Boudreau said he's not sure what's causing the high number of accidents this year.

"We don't know if it's caused by just an increase in number of animals or just a coincidence that people are hitting them more often this year compared to previous years." he said.

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But motoristslike ReenaLegerofShediac are concerned.

"We slow down and watch ... oh, especially at night." she said.

Ron LeBlancsaid he obeys the rules of the road and especially the speed limit.

"I get passed all the time by guys going like crazy," he said.

Boudreau said most of the collisions have occurred between10 p.m. and 1 a.m.

"Even though the road conditions are nice and we would normally go 110 kilometres an hour on that road that's with perfect conditions," Boudreau said.

With moose travelling in and around roads we'd recommend even slower than the speed limit there."