Introduction: The Blink-of-an-Eye Moment
It happens faster than you can swear. One second the road’s clear, the next; bang, a deer leaps from the heather like it’s auditioning for *Springwatch*. You slam the brakes, heart thumping, trailer fishtailing, headlights swinging into the dark. And then silence, just the soft hiss of cooling brakes and the distant drip of rain on metal.
I hit a pheasant once near Aviemore. It wasn’t graceful. Feathers everywhere - looked like a duvet exploded. I felt awful, but also slightly impressed at how solid a bird that small could be at 50 miles an hour.
Background: Why Highland Roads Are a Wildlife Circus
Scotland’s roads cut through some of the wildest terrain in the UK, which is exactly why pike anglers love them. But that beauty comes with movement. Red deer, foxes, badgers, and the occasional rogue sheep treat the tarmac as their own shortcut. Dusk and dawn: when most anglers are driving; are peak activity times. Combine that with winding single tracks and patchy visibility, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a wildlife encounter you didn’t plan for.
It’s not just the Highlands, either. Rural Fife, the Borders, even the outskirts of Stirling see hundreds of animal collisions every year. The countryside may look still - but it’s alive, unpredictable, and often right in your lane.
The Core Reality: What Happens When You Hit Something Wild
1. Safety First. Pull over safely, switch on your hazards, and take a breath. Check on yourself and any passengers before worrying about the animal. Shock makes fools of us all: you’re no use to anyone if you step into the road shaking like a leaf.
2. Don’t Take Risks. Injured animals can be dangerous. Don’t try to move or “help” a deer - they can kick with enough force to break bones. Step back, stay visible, and if the animal’s still alive, call 999 for police assistance. It’s their job to handle wildlife casualties humanely.
3. Document It. Take photos if it’s safe - damage, surroundings, even the animal if you must. Not for morbid reasons, but for your insurer. Wildlife collisions are classed as “unavoidable accidents,” but proof helps when you’re filing the claim later.
4. Report It. You’re legally required to report certain collisions (deer, dogs, livestock) to the police. For smaller animals, it’s good practice anyway. It keeps records accurate, and might prevent someone else from hitting the same unfortunate spot an hour later.
5. Check the Car. Headlights cracked? Radiator leaking? Loose bumper? Even a minor hit can knock something vital out of alignment. You don’t want to find out two miles later when the temperature gauge spikes and you’re stranded with a dead engine and a guilty conscience.
Human Experience: The Quiet Aftermath
It’s strange how quiet it feels afterward. No traffic, no birdsong; just you, adrenaline still humming. You replay it in your head, the flash of movement, the thud, the what-if. You’ll probably drive slower for the next 20 miles, eyes scanning every shadow like it’s plotting against you. That’s normal. Everyone who’s hit wildlife says the same thing - you don’t forget it, but you do learn from it.
And sometimes, there’s humour in hindsight. One mate hit a pheasant that lodged perfectly in his front grille. He named it “Percy.” Percy did the full trip to Ullapool before anyone noticed. Gruesome, yes. But also a bit of legend now.
Why It Matters: It’s Not Just About the Animal
Wildlife collisions are as much about driver awareness as they are about luck. Most of us think of insurance as covering people or potholes; but rural drivers live in a different world. Deer damage, smashed bumpers, even shattered windscreens from a low-flying pheasant, they’re all part of the deal up north.
Knowing how to react, what to report, and how to claim is what separates a quick fix from an expensive, nerve-wracking week. Preparation isn’t paranoia - it’s just Highland common sense.
Legacy: The Road Lessons You Keep
Ask around and you’ll hear stories; everyone’s hit something. It’s not a question of *if*, it’s *when*. The good news is, you learn to drive differently. Slower at dusk, lights on early, eyes wider. Eventually, you spot movement before it happens. And when you don’t, you handle it with calm and care - not panic.
That’s the mark of a seasoned Highland driver. Not just how fast you get there, but how marvellously you react when nature decides to test you.
Conclusion: Eyes Up, Mind Sharp
Wildlife collisions aren’t pleasant, but they’re part of the deal when you chase fish in wild places. The roads to Scotland’s lochs are alive: unpredictable, breathtaking, and sometimes unforgiving. Drive like you’re sharing the space, because you are.