Photo credit: CHPCALIFORNIA — The California Highway Patrol (CHP) posted video September 18 of a bear trotting down Nevada City Highway, turning the morning commute into an unexpected wildlife sighting.
“This morning, a bear decided that Nevada City Highway was his personal hiking trail. Friendly reminder: the wildlife don’t always follow traffic laws,” CHP wrote in its post.
CHP noted that this time of year, wildlife of all sizes are on the move. Bears roam more widely in late summer and fall as they search for food ahead of winter. That means encounters on rural highways and residential streets become more common.
Nearly 400 people were injured in more than 2,000 collisions in 2019 involving wildlife, according to CHP.
“Stay alert, slow down, and keep both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road (and not on your phone),” CHP advised.
Quick reaction time can make all the difference. Officers also reminded drivers: if an animal runs into the road, don’t swerve, and brake cautiously to avoid losing control.
“We couldn’t BEAR to see you get into a crash,” CHP said.
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