What To Know About This Growing Driving Threat On Minnesota Roads

Minnesota drivers know that wildlife can pose a risk while driving on the state's roadways. Deer are certainly the most common animal that comes to mind when it comes to animal risks on Minnesota roadways.

Heck, the phrase "Watch out for deer!" is part of most Minnesota goodbyes!

While less common, moose are also a dangerous creature on Minnesota roadways. Their height and the way their bodies are constructed can make them a particularly dangerous creature to accidentally collide with while driving.

Besides those two large animals found in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, there is another creature that is posing a growing risk to motorists. Here's what to know, what the DNR says, and what to do if you hit one.

Minnesota's growing wildlife driving risk

Once basically gone from Minnesota, the wild turkey population has grown exponentially in recent years. After the wild turkey population had been essentially eliminated in the state, a small effort to restore the population started in the 1970s with the introduction of 29 adult turkeys trapped in Missouri and brought to Southeastern Minnesota.

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Since then, the Minnesota DNR says the population has grown extensively with their range expanding well into other portions of Minnesota. While the DNR says their normal range is in the southern half of the state, they have been seen in areas north of that as well.

These large birds pose a couple of risks while driving.

Weighing as much as 25 pounds, turkeys often travel in flocks anywhere from 6 to 40 birds, sometimes blocking traffic by wandering out into roadways. The Minnesota DNR says especially in the spring and early summer some turkeys choose to stand, walk, or pace back and forth in the center of roadways.

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The DNR says these "highway turkeys" are not easily dispersed, and sometimes need to be "forcibly removed" by wildlife officials.

In addition, most people don't imagine these large birds flying, but they certainly can - and do - which can pose another driving risk.

Turkeys on the side of a roadway or perched in a tree can sometimes fly across a roadway, presenting a large flying object that could be hit by a driver, either colliding with your vehicle's grill, hood, or breaking the windshield of your vehicle. Hitting such a large object at highway speeds is a recipe for bad news.

These risks are even more dangerous for motorcyclists.

Being they are only a few feet tall and can easily blend in, seeing these birds on a roadside can be difficult.

When are wild turkeys most active?

While turkeys can be seen at any time of day, they (like many other animals) tend to be more active in the mornings and evenings. This is, unfortunately, when visibility can be more challenging with less direct light from the sun to help you see these animals.

Turkeys are out and about all year long, but tend to be more active during their mating period, which tends to be in April and May in Minnesota.

What to do if you hit a wild turkey?

Advice from an insurance company is to pull over as soon as possible to inspect for and document damage and to make sure all vehicle occupants are safe. Depending on the level of damage, you may need to call the police or emergency services.

RELATED: Deadliest & most dangerous Minnesota counties for deer crashes

Regarding the turkey, reporting an injured or killed turkey to the local DNR conservation officer will enable them to make sure the injured or killed bird is properly handled.

In addition, if you desire to keep a killed turkey, the Minnesota DNR's guidance on motor vehicle-killed wildlife explains that salvageable killed animals can be taken by the driver if desired, but must be reported to the local DNR conservation officer.