Report animals along Westside Road BC

This is where Westside Road users can report animal sightings and animals hit by vehicles along Westside Road.

Users of Westside Road can report animals as well as inform themselves of where others have seen animals. In this way Westside Road users can choose to take more care driving in that area.

The District Manager of Transportation Okanagan-Shuswap has said that animal reflectors are a great idea, and if people tell him where the animals are hanging out along Westside Road, that the Ministry will consider installing animal reflectors in that area.

If $30,000 worth of reflectors stopped two moose from being hit by a vehicle that would reduce our vehicle insurance costs because some vehicles are worth $30,000 alone. A car would most likely be a write-off if it hit a moose, and deer do enough damage too!

In 2005, ICBC paid out in excess of $13 million dollars on more than 3,200 animal collision incidents in the North Central Interior of British Columbia. There is a distinct peak time for collisions which occurs between October and December, with a smaller increase in May through July.

There are many animals that are hit by vehicles and move away from the road to die, and therefore are not recorded on official MoT totals. Using the MoT estimates (Sielecki, L., 2004. WARS 1983-2002: Special Annual Report, BC Ministry of Transportation) of 1 recorded dead animal to 3 unrecorded dead animals, in northern BC, there are likely in excess of 4,000 animals killed per year due to collisions with vehicles.

Please report animals using the form at the bottom of this web page and we will make sure that the Ministry is aware of the reports that you make.

FACT
Did you know there isn't one "watch for deer sign" at least from Parkers Cove to La Casa that we checked.

Well okanaganlakebc.com is on a mission now to have signs installed where there are obvious animal trails and where deer have been hit in the past. If you would like to help donate to the cause to have animal crossing signs made and installed, please contact us by using our feedback form. OkanaganLakeBC.com is dedicated to going around and collecting donations, making the signs, and installing the signs. We have made two cheap models out of chip board quickly for now and are about to put them along the road near Estamont and/or Ewings Landing until we can get some donations happening and nicer signs made. If you happen to have any of the following supplies laying around that you don't mind donating, please contact us and we will come and pick them up. Donations don't have to cost you money, but if you wish you can also donate cash to help purchase supplies.

If you know of any worn trails, please let us know by using our feedback form so we know where to place these signs.

Watch for sheep on Westside Rd.
By Judie Steeves - Kelowna Capital News - Published: June 21, 2008

Don’t bump into a naive bighorn sheep on Westside Road.

A radio-collared bighorn sheep ewe poses with her neck jewelry beside Westside Road, where there are concerns drivers could collide with lambs born this year. (photo)

With five lambs born this spring to the splinter herd that has gathered around the corner of Bear Forest Service Road and Westside Road the past few years, there will be some who aren’t very “road smart,” commented Brian Harris, wildlife biologist with the environment ministry.

The animals are part of a group that was transplanted to the Shorts Creek canyon in 2004, a rugged area further north along the road, and well upland from Okanagan Lake.

Shorts Creek tumbles over a number of ledges in a series of waterfalls in Fintry Provincial Park.

However, not long after the move—from an area near Kamloops where they were endangering their lives along a busy highway—a group of the animals had made it down to Westside Road and were spotted ambling along the asphalt.

Since then, they’ve been hanging out in the area of Bear Main, 20 kilometres south.

All five ewes who are part of that herd apparently had lambs this spring, said Harris, so he estimates there are now 14 in that herd.

The ministry has hired a contractor to track the one ewe in that group with a working radio collar to get an idea of their movements.

The intent is to get an idea of where a fence might help to keep them off the roadway itself, if the decision is made that it’s necessary, he said.

Warning signs about possible sheep on the road have been posted by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation, but Harris said it is important for people to slow down in that area.

jsteeves "at" kelownacapnews.com

These three mule deer photos (below) were taken the same day in the same spot near the Big Horn sheep sign at Westshore Estates on Feb 21, 2008
We seen 3 mule deer hanging around that sharp corner at Westside Road and Westshore Estates

We seen 3 mule deer hanging around that sharp corner at Westside Road and Westshore Estates

Baby mule deer at Westshore Estates along Westside Road Okanagan BC

Watch out for Mule Deer
There were lots of deer out Feb 21, 2008 in the afternoon along Westside Road. This deer was on that sharp corner on Westside Road at Westshore Estates. He or she was hanging out with at least 2 others maybe more. We seen one dead one that had been hit by a vehicle in another spot. And that isn't all the deer we seen... they seemed to be everywhere. We also heard a wolf howling the other night near Valley of the Sun.... maybe its a wolf dog ... not sure ... we keep hearing it and it doesn't sound like coyotes??

White tail deer have white under their tail which you see when they raise their tail. There was a pack of about 5 of these white tails in the field at the S-curves north of Ewings Landing April 20, 2008.

The intention of the Wildlife Collision Prevention Program (WCPP) is to make BC's highways safer for both people and wildlife. There is a lot motorists can do to improve their chances of avoiding a wildlife vehicle collision.

Anecdotally, many people swear by their deer whistles, but there are no scientific studies that prove that they work.

The animal has to hear the noise, recognize that it is coming from a vehicle, interpret that the sound means danger, and react by moving away from the vehicle.

The danger is that if drivers think that deer whistles work, they may become complacent and rely on the deer whistle instead of driving wildlife aware.

There is a animal trail crossing Westside Road at Ewings Landing. Earlier this year approx April 27, 2008 an animal was killed there and now there are skid marks. So please be careful in this area.

Animal remains at Ewings Landing with trail crossing Westside Road
The closest skid mark in the photo is where an animal was hit before (photo below). If you want to know where the deer are crossing ... just look for skid marks.

Animal remains at Ewings Landing near trail

That sign in the background is the Ewings Landing sign you would see heading north and approaching Ewings Landing. This animal was hit sometime approx. April 27, 2008 when the photo was taken.

This photo below is looking the other way (south)
There is a driveway on the left side of Westside Road in this photo.
Deer remains near Ewings Landing - Looking south on Westside Road

Deer remains near Ewings Landing - Looking south on Westside Road

This photo above explains where the deer trail is.

This photo is also looking south. The highways Ministry needs to do some brush clearing to help cut down on deer being hit by vehicles. For example, as shown in this photo above. The tree that is circled needs to be removed. Maybe if the highways Ministry walked Westside Road, they would see where the most heavily crossed areas are.

Another place to watch for deer is where the fence runs around Evely Forest Campsite. Deer tend to run along the road looking for a place to jump the fence. They really should take that fence down not just for deer but in case people go out of control and drive through it. It is a solid fence built with thick logs.

This photo below was taken facing south just north of Killiney Beach April 16, 2007
Deer carcass laying alongside Westside Road near Killiney Beach

Deer carcass laying alongside Westside Road near Killiney Beach

Deer carcass across the road from Lake Okanagan Resort

This deer carcass was found right across the road from Lake Okanagan Resort April 27, 2008. Not much left of that deer. There are many coyotes seen in the Lake Okanagan Resort area.

Dead deer up Sugar Loaf mountain road approx. March 3, 2008

This deer was found dead approx. March 3, 2008 up Sugar Loaf mountain road and up past the transfer station.

This poor deer was hit by a vehicle at Estamont Beach on Westside Road

click to see larger photo
This poor deer was hit by a vehicle and had his leg broken on May 22, 2008 at Estamont Beach on Westside Road. It was laying in the ditch on the right hand side of Elliot Road approx. 4:25 PM and still alive. Okanagan Lake phoned 911 and reported it to the police. A little while later the police phoned and said they had put it out of its misery, the poor deer. The deer was most likely hit on Westside Road and came down the hill alongside Elliot Road into the ditch. There is a sharp corner at Estamont so please people drive slower in the summer and be aware that deer will even sometimes run into you. Just a little earlier OkanaganLakeBC.com had a small black bear run across the road up ahead (not close call thank goodness) in between Valley of the Sun hill and Ewings Landing. If you were the one who hit this deer, why didn't you stop and have a look to see if it was laying in the ditch suffering and waiting to die so you could report it?? OkanaganLakeBC.com sure didn't need to come across this and see it! OkanaganLakeBC.com did a lot of crying after seeing this and then posting it to the web! Thanks! Maybe if this is posted to the web people will slow down and think before driving so fast!

Just two weeks before this OkanaganLakeBC.com's neighbour who resides in the Smithers area (moose area) hit a deer down by the OKIB reserve beach where the chain link fence is that has the toilet building not far from the blue barge at Beau Park Road. His newer Dodge truck grill, headlight, and smaller radiator behind the front grill was smashed.

Two days later on May 24, 2008 a vehicle went off the road next to where the deer in the photo above was hit. See photos here.

Anecdotally, many people swear by their deer whistles, but there are no scientific studies that prove that they work.

The animal has to hear the noise, recognize that it is coming from a vehicle, interpret that the sound means danger, and react by moving away from the vehicle.

The danger is that if drivers think that deer whistles work, they may become complacent and rely on the deer whistle instead of driving wildlife aware.

So, what can you do to avoid hitting an animal yourself?

First, pay attention to animal crossing signs. They're probably there because other motorists have had crashes in the area.

Also, obey the speed limit and keep a close watch for deer around dusk and at dawn.

Don't over-drive your headlights at night -- i.e., control your speed so that you will have time to react to something when it appears in your headlights.

If you see a deer in the road, honk your horn -- flashing
your lights might cause the animal to further fixate on your vehicle.

Keep in mind that if you think you are going to hit the animal, it's often better to brake than to swerve. Swerving can confuse the animal as to which way to run and possibly result in a worse collision with a fixed object such as a tree or an oncoming vehicle.

If you have comments good or bad, solutions, concerns or complaints regarding the animals along Westside Road please fill out the form below and/or contact the District Manager of Transportation Okanagan-Shuswap District. Grant Lachmuth is no longer in this position we heard, but website still says Grant Lachmuth. Sent an email to Grant Lachmuth May 22, 2008 and he says he forwarded email to the new district manager Murray Tekano.

Ministry of Transportation
Murray Tekano District Manager, Transportation
KELOWNA - Okanagan Shuswap District Office
300-1358 St Paul Street
Kelowna, B.C., V1Y-2E1
Telephone 250-712-3629
Fax: 250-712-3669
Email: Murray.Tekano "at" gov.bc.ca

***The results of the form you fill out below will be published here on this website.

Please feel free to email letters to info

to be published here on this website as well.