Sask. had 5 moose-vehicle collisions in less than 30 minutes. You can blame it on hormones

Many Saskatchewan drivers are familiar with the split second of fear that comes after spotting wildlife on the highway.

Five drivers had exactly that experience on Nov. 8, 2024, with their vehicles hitting moose in different parts of the province between 6:20 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. CST.

"It's a horrid scene, similar in some instances to a horse, because you've got a 800- to 1,000-pound animal that's being struck by a vehicle," said RCMP Supt. Grant St. Germaine.

He said small vehicles fare badly in these type of collisions, with moose coming straight through windshields, tearing the top off the vehicles, and causing serious injuries or deaths.

LISTEN: Moose-human interactions under the radar in latest podcast episode

This week's episode of the This is Saskatchewan podcast explores people's interactions with moose, including a troubling incident in which a moose crashed into a school in Saskatoon in 2021.

"There was blood everywhere because I think the moose, trying to get in, had already burst part of his skin open," said Charity Isioma Nosa Idemudia, who was working in the school at the time of the incident.

Even now, the trauma of the incident remains with her and can make her cry, as she recalls the fear of trying to get the kids to safety.

So what led to five moose collisions happening in less than 30 minutes? It's not due to a rise in the moose population — or some inherent love of roads in the species.

"Interestingly, maybe contrary to what's been happening in the province this week, they really do not like spending time on roads," said Ayicia Nabigon, a master's student in the department of biology at the University of Saskatchewan who studies moose. 

However, moose hormones tend to run wild during the fall and can lead to erratic behaviour, which has wildlife observers urging people to be particularly cautious about their driving. 

While some people might love to see a moose from a safe distance, Isioma Nosa Idemudia isn't one of them, with memories of that 2021 school crash still fresh in her mind.

"Right now, even trying to see a real life moose …  I don't think I want to for now." 

This story is from the This is Saskatchewan podcast — your connection to the stories Saskatchewan is talking about. Every week, Leisha Grebinski and Nichole Huck will cover local issues that matter. Hear the voices that are creating change, shaping policy and fuelling creativity in Saskatchewan.