A Maple Ridge resident wants to get the message out to motorists that some other creatures are using the same route as you, so slow down and look around a bit.
Carol Campos said that since detours for the construction of the 232nd Street bridge forced traffic on to 128th Avenue a few years ago, traffic volume has increased.
“When we first moved in about four years ago, it was super quiet.”
But in the last three months, she’s seen two deer hit near her house on 230th Street.
“They [deer] do travel along here all the time,” said Campos.
“It’s unfortunate that they [motorists] speed. They’re not paying attention.”
On Monday, at about 11 a.m., a mother and a baby deer were crossing 128th Avenue. The young deer got hit, injuring its leg and lay down in Campos’s yard.
She saw it hobbling away but heard that the SPCA picked it up.
In August, a fawn was hit and killed.
“There could have been others hit along this road but I don’t know about it.”
And this summer, Campos was driving home in the dark when she spotted something moving in the middle of the road. It was another fawn that she helped shepherd on to the side of the road.
To help reduce the number of injured animals, Campos wants the city to post some small, attention-getting signs warning people to look out for animals. The conventional beware of wildlife highway signs don’t seem to be catching people’s attention.
She seen colourful signs used in Oak Bay, near Victoria, and wants Maple Ridge to look at a similar program.
In Oak Bay, the Urban Wildlife Stewardship Society is running the program by having signs made that read Caution: Fawns Crossing.
Campos said if that doesn’t work maybe speed bumps can be put on to the road as on Shady Lane, or 124th Avenue.