This morning I witnessed a young animal suffer a slow and painful death due to an inconsiderate driver.
It’s a fact that deer have become a nuisance due to their increasing numbers and will be accidentally struck and killed from time to time. However, I was shocked to see a local vehicle fail to slow down or stop and wholly neglect to look around after a fawn dashed across the road.
Traffic was moving slowly on Sooke Road with plenty of following space in order for him to come to a complete stop.
As residents of the Island know, where there is one deer there are others nearby. Sure enough a second fawn followed close behind and was struck, suffering a badly broken leg. I watched it stagger back to its mother and it was clear there was no hope for its survival.
Please slow down and take a quick look around when animals are on the road, signal animal presence to oncoming traffic by flashing your headlights if necessary and remember that we share this wonderful, untamed place with wildlife that deserves our attention while driving.
Kelsey Keating
Sooke