.svg)
Todd Quinn
Oregon Marketing Manager
Metier Motorcycle Lawyers
Fall is a favorite time of year for a lot of us who ride. The air cools down, the roads empty out a bit, and the changing colors up in the high country are worth every mile. But what most riders don’t talk about nearly enough is how risky autumn can be, especially when it comes to wildlife. Motorcycle wildlife accidents tend to spike in the fall, and it’s not a coincidence.
For starters, fall is mating season for deer, elk, and moose. The rut turns normally cautious animals into unpredictable missiles. Bucks start roaming more during the day and aren’t thinking clearly. They’ll chase does across highways and rural roads without any hesitation. It’s all instinct for them, and if you're coming around a bend or cresting a hill, you might not even see them in time. Add to that the fact that many animals are migrating or looking for food ahead of winter, and you've got a recipe for high animal activity in all the wrong places.
There’s also the issue of reduced daylight. Days are getting shorter, and the light at dusk plays tricks on your eyes. Shadows stretch across the road and blend with the trees and brush. That makes it even harder to spot animals near the shoulder, especially on backroads or forested routes. Then you’ve got leaf litter and cooler pavement temperatures working against you. Wet leaves can be as slick as ice, and they can hide potholes, small animals, or debris that forces you into a bad decision at high speed.
If you’re riding in Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon, or Washington this time of year, certain areas are more dangerous than others. Places like Big Thompson Canyon, Mt. Hood Highway, and US 287 in Wyoming have long histories of wildlife crossings and rider close calls. Scenic routes often double as migration paths. Just because a road is beautiful doesn’t mean it’s safe, and that goes double during the fall.
Now, let’s talk about which animals pose the most risk. Deer are at the top of the list. Mule deer and white-tailed deer are everywhere in the West, and they tend to travel in groups. If you see one cross the road, slow down immediately because more are probably coming. Elk are the next big one, literally. Hitting an elk is like hitting a small car. The impact is devastating, and they’re often active during the same peak times as deer. Moose don’t get talked about as much, but they’re an especially big threat in parts of northern Colorado and the mountain regions of Wyoming. If you’ve never seen a moose up close, picture a thousand-pound animal with long legs that can crush your entire front end if you collide. Even smaller critters: raccoons, foxes, coyotes can be a problem. Most riders don’t crash because of the impact. They crash because they tried to swerve and lost control.
Staying safe in these conditions takes more than luck. It means riding a little differently than you might during summer. If you can help it, try to avoid riding at dawn or dusk when animals are most active. Choose routes that are more open and give you longer sight lines. When you’re on the road, don’t just stare ahead. Scan the tree lines, fence rows, and ditches. Look for movement or the telltale reflection of animal eyes. Riding in the left side of your lane can sometimes buy you just enough extra space and time to react if something jumps out from the right.
High beams can help, especially on rural stretches with no traffic around. They give you a better chance of spotting wildlife before it’s too late. Just remember to dim them for oncoming cars. If something does dart in front of you, your best move isn’t to swerve. That’s hard to do instinctively (your brain tells you to avoid the obstacle at all costs) but trying to swerve often makes things worse. If you can, brake in a straight line and keep your bike upright. Let your ABS do the work.
One important thing to always remember: where there’s one deer, there are usually more. Don’t assume the road is clear after the first one crosses. Gear can also make a difference. High-visibility jackets and reflective helmets won’t stop an animal from jumping into your lane, but they might help it spot you from farther away. And if the worst happens, good gear can be the difference between a painful accident and a life-changing one.
Fall also happens to be a great time to refresh your riding skills. Emergency braking, quick decision-making, obstacle avoidance, these things get rusty over the summer. A half-day practice session in a parking lot or a safety course with a pro instructor can pay off big if a deer jumps out at 60 mph.
So what happens if you hit wildlife on your bike? The outcomes vary, but they’re rarely good. Unlike cars, motorcycles don’t offer much protection. Hitting a deer or elk can throw you from the bike or cause a serious crash, even if the impact itself is minor. It’s not just the animal, it’s the sudden stop, the slide, the terrain you land on. Injuries from these kinds of wrecks tend to be severe, and unfortunately, many are fatal.
Insurance can be tricky too. Not every policy covers wildlife collisions under standard liability. You might need comprehensive coverage for your bike damage, and depending on your state, medical expenses might not be fully covered unless you have add-ons like MedPay. Riders often find out too late that they aren’t fully protected from a crash caused by an animal.
Despite all the risk, a lot of us keep riding through the fall and for good reason. The roads are less crowded, the weather’s cooler, and the scenery is unbeatable. But it’s not summer anymore. You’ve got to treat fall rides with a different mindset. The hazards change. The animals are out. And you’re sharing the road with creatures that don’t care about your ride plan.
So pay attention. Ride smart. Keep your head on a swivel. And don’t assume that just because you’ve ridden a certain stretch of road a hundred times that it’ll be the same in October as it was in June. Out here in the West, fall riding can be the best kind of riding…if you respect what’s out there.
