GRA: OUTDOORS and FREE by Bob Harris

BOB HARRIS
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Outdoors and Free
Volume 2, Issue 28

Be Aware To Brake for Moose While Driving In New Hampshire
By BOB HARRIS
Outdoors and Free
Friday, May 23, 2008

With thanks to New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Moose Project Leader, Kristine Rines, and those biologists before her, New Hampshire’s moose population has increased well over the years. According to Kristine, our moose herd is estimated to be 6,000 animals strong.
Moose are wonderfully majestic animals to view. Seeing them provides people in New Hampshire with a wonderful and exciting experience. However, moose can and do provide a dangerous situation, especially at night, for the unobserving and careless driver on our New Hampshire roadways.

According to our Fish and Game Department, there were 198 moose/vehicle collisions in the state during 2007. In the last five years, the state averaged 230 collisions with moose per year. Kristine Rines says, "The months of May and June are high-risk months for encountering moose on all types of roadways, because moose are moving from winter and spring habitats and starting to come out on the roads to eat salt. Moose are an important and much loved animal of our state, but it can be dangerous to encounter them on the road. By following a few simple rules, motorists can greatly reduce their chances of a moose/vehicle collision and/or the severity of personal injury if they do hit a moose."

It was about five or six years ago that there was a moose/vehicle collision on Route 114, just above the intersection of Route 114 and 114A in Pinardville. Although the colliding vehicle was badly damaged, it was fortunate that the occupants were not injured. The Goffstown Police had to put the moose down by shooting it. The thing that amazes me is how some drivers act so careless while driving at night. They drive too fast and often with their lights turned down to low beam. Moose stand high, are dark brown colored and hard to see against pavement at night, especially if they come onto the roadway from forage bordering the road. There are moose in Goffstown areas and they do travel. When driving on New Hampshire roadways, especially at dusk, night or in foggy weather, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department makes these suggestions:

1. Moose/vehicle collisions happen most often from the months of May through November.
2. At night, don’t depend on "eye shine" to alert you to a moose’s presence. Moose don’t always
look at an approaching vehicle.
3. To reduce the chance of a collision, or the severity of occupant injury if you do hit a moose:
a. Drive no faster than 55 m.p.h. and wear your seat belt.
b. Keep your headlights on high beam whenever possible.
c. Scan both sides of the roadway as you travel.
d. Be able to stop within the zone of your headlights.
e. If you see a moose, slow down immediately, or stop if necessary, until you have passed it or it has left the road.

Moose/vehicle collisions can be very catastrophic so caution pays dividends. If you are traveling at night, dusk or in heavy fog and the speed limit is 65, drop down to 55. It is unfortunate that so many drivers travel highways at speeds of 15 to 20 m.p.h. faster than the limit calls for. So, be cautious and stay safe.

Bob Harris can be reached via e-mail at: outwriter2@aol.com

Past Columns >>>

2008
> Bob Harris 05-16-08: Animal Rights Group Dupes Donors Into Believing It Takes Care of Animals
> Bob Harris 05-09-08: FREE FISHING DAY - A Grand Opportunity For Fun and Introduction
> Bob Harris 05-02-08: Wildlife Legacy Donations Help Maintain Land Access
> Bob Harris 04-25-08: Fishing Fun Is Here - Trout Ponds Open Saturday, April 26
> Bob Harris 04-18-08: Protecting Your Shrubs and Crops From Deer Damage
> Bob Harris 04-11-08: More Harm Than Good - DO NOT FEED the DEER
> Bob Harris 04-04-08: Snowmobile fatalities in Ossipee
> Bob Harris 03-28-08: Get Ready for Landlocked Salmon Season
> Bob Harris 03-21-08: Glenn Normandeau Appointed as Fish and Game Executive Director
> Bob Harris 03-14-08: Turkey Hunting Workshop Offered April 19th
> Bob Harris 03-07-08: Corn Chumming Is Threatening the Sport of Trout Fishing
> Bob Harris 02-29-08: Free Evening Fishing Seminars Offered at N.H. Fish and Game Department
> Bob Harris 02-22-08: The passing of a great friend and sportsman
> Bob Harris 02-15-08: Striped Bass Fishing Is Important
> Bob Harris 02-08-08: A Great Opportunity for Young Artists
> Bob Harris 02-01-08: FIREARM OWNERS ALERT - Gun Free Zones Coming
> Bob Harris 01-25-08: A Galaxy of Greats Share Their Knowledge at Eastern Fishing & Outdoors Exposition
> Bob Harris 01-18-08: Free Ice Fishing classes offered in Milford, N.H.
> Bob Harris 01-04-08: Be Aware of New Fishing Rule Changes for 2008

2007
> Bob Harris 12-28-07: New Hampshire Anglers and Hunters Have a Significant Impact On the Economy
> Bob Harris 12-21-07: New Hampshire's Winter Black Crappie
> Bob Harris 12-14-07: A Great Show Soon to Come
> Bob Harris 12-07-07: A Reminder: Be Safe On N.H. Lakes and Ponds This Winter
> Bob Harris 11-30-07: A deer hunter's dilemma
> Bob Harris 11-23-07: Hunting and Fishing Bill of Rights and Responsibilities?
> Bob Harris 11-16-07: Blood Finder of New Hampshire Is A Great Help To Hunters
> Bob Harris 11-09-07: Hunters Can Help the N.H. Food Bank to Feed the Hungry
> Bob Harris 11-02-07: 2007 New Hampshire Moose Hunt Big Success
> Bob Harris 10-26-07: New Hampshire Archery Deer Kill, to Date, Is The Highest In 9 Years
> Bob Harris 10-19-07: Non-Hunters Can Enjoy the Woodlands During Hunting Season, Too
> Bob Harris 10-12-07: Fall turkey shotgun season is here
> Bob Harris 10-05-07: Trouble at Glen Lake
> Bob Harris 09-28-07: Are You Ready for Pheasant Season?
> Bob Harris 09-21-07: A Dangerous Assault On Our Second Amendment Rights
> Bob Harris 09-14-07: Cyanobacteria - No Luck O’ the Irish here
> Bob Harris 09-07-07: Upland Bird Hunting and The Dogs Used To Roust Them
> Bob Harris 08-31-07: Largemouth Bass virus found in Lake Winnipesaukee
> Bob Harris 08-24-07: Farewell To Fish and Game Executive Director Lee Perry
> Bob Harris 08-17-07: Time to sign up for a Hunter Education course
> Bob Harris 08-10-07: Another invasive algae threatens New Hampshire waters
> Bob Harris 08-03-07: Crappie fishing in New Hampshire
> Bob Harris 07-27-07: Lake Winnisquam to get public boat access site
> Bob Harris 07-20-07: Hearing set for proposed 2008 Freshwater Fishing rules
> Bob Harris 07-13-07: Good fishing luck only comes to those who believe
> Bob Harris 07-06-07: Hunters have a chance to take an additional antlerless deer in WMU "M"
> Bob Harris 06-29-07: Courtesy is a MUST at the boat launch
> Bob Harris 06-22-07: What’s happening in New Jersey could happen in New Hampshire
> Bob Harris 06-15-07: Check Your Watercraft Thoroughly Before Launching
> Bob Harris 06-08-07: The HSUS Isn’t What You Think It Is
> Bob Harris 06-01-07: River bass are powerful
> Bob Harris 05-25-07: A website for outdoors women
> Bob Harris 05-18-07: Vicious attack by a butterfly
> Bob Harris 05-11-07: The Mini-Tandem Streamer
> Bob Harris 05-04-07: Tandem Streamers - The Size Counts
> Bob Harris 04-27-07: Come Have Fun at N. H. Fish and Game’s All-Fish Exposition
> Bob Harris 04-20-07: Trout ponds open April 28th
> Bob Harris 04-13-07: Come and enjoy "Discover Wild New Hampshire Day"
> Bob Harris 04-06-07: It's time to enjoy landlocked salmon fishing
> Bob Harris 03-30-07: New Hampshire Fish and Game Executive Director Will Be Missed
> Bob Harris 03-23-07: Turkey hunting seminar April 14th
> Bob Harris 03-16-07: The most sweeping gun ban ever introduced in Congress
> Bob Harris 03-09-07: A backdoor assault on our right-to-carry in New Hampshire
> Bob Harris 03-02-07: A call to action on Fish & Game funding
> Bob Harris 02-23-07: Come Enjoy the 5th Annual Fly-Fish New Hampshire Show
> Bob Harris 02-16-07: Snowshoe Hare Hunting Workshop Offered by N.N Fish and Game Department
> Bob Harris 02-09-07: Need to ride snowmobiles responsibly and safely
> Bob Harris 02-02-07: The joys of wildlife watching and photography
> Bob Harris 01-26-07: Many New Hampshire waters are open for fishing year-round
> Bob Harris 01-19-07: Tell Governor John Lynch you care about Fish and Game funding
> Bob Harris 01-12-07: Come and Enjoy the 31st Toyota Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition
> Bob Harris 01-05-07: Fox television joins movement to ban trapping

2006
> Bob Harris 12-29-06: A successful year for deer hunters
> Bob Harris 12-22-06: Marine fisheries law enforcement activities increased in 2006
> Bob Harris 12-15-06: December - a beautiful time for pheasant hunting
> Bob Harris 12-08-06: The ice will be coming. Be ready, be safe.
> Bob Harris 12-01-06: Let's all help support the NH Fish & Game department
> Bob Harris 11-24-06: The bear facts
> Bob Harris 11-17-06: Become a volunteer ice fishing instructor
> Bob Harris 11-10-06: Take a kid hunting this fall

> About Bob Harris