Motorists should exercise caution when travelling the province’s highways due to the presence of large numbers of caribou.  Caribou are currently active near the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) between the TCH-Howley Intersection and Junction Brook and on the Bay D’Espoir Highway between Miguel Lake (Rolling Pond) and Northwest Gander River.

The animals are expected to remain in these areas throughout the winter where they will be vulnerable to vehicular traffic.

This advisory is further to warnings issued to motorists over the past few weeks related to caribou on roadways in Western Newfoundland between the TCH-Burgeo Highway intersection and the end of highway moose fencing, Route 460 (White’s Road) and on the Northern Peninsula between St. Anthony Airport and the communities of Main Brook and Eddies Cove.

Motorists can reduce the risk of a caribou-vehicle collision by:

• Scanning both sides of the highway;
• Paying attention to caribou warning signs;
• Avoiding driving at dusk and dawn when caribou are more common alongside roadways;
• Having passengers also watch for caribou; and
• Reducing speeds when driving at night when caribou are more difficult to see.

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Media contact
Craig Renouf
Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
709-637-2923, 640-6922
craigrenouf@gov.nl.ca