November 2025 Sunriver Scene - Flipbook - Page 12
Drive with care: Wildlife on the move
By SNCO Staff
As the days grow shorter
and the nights stretch longer,
Central Oregon enters one of
the most active times of year for
wildlife movement. Migration
season is in full swing, and as
dusk falls earlier each evening,
animals are on the move, often
just as many of us are heading
home from work.
At Sunriver Nature Center &
Observatory, our wildlife team
recently treated a beautiful owl
that had been struck by a car.
Despite every effort, the bird’s
wing injuries were too severe,
and it had to be humanely
euthanized. It’s a heartbreaking reminder of how easily
our roads intersect with the
natural world, and how even
a moment of distraction can
have devastating consequences
for wildlife.
During autumn, many species are migrating in search of
food and winter shelter. Young
animals born in spring are now
venturing out on their own
and nocturnal mammals are
more active under the cover of
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longer nights. Add to that wet
or icy conditions and the glare
of headlights on dark roads,
and the risk of collisions rises
dramatically.
A few small changes in driving habits and roadside behavior can make a difference for
wildlife this season:
1. Slow down and stay alert,
especially at dawn and dusk.
Most wildlife collisions occur
during these low-light hours.
Reduce your speed, scan both
sides of the road, and use high
beams when safe to do so to
give yourself more reaction
time.
2. Avoid tossing compostable food out the window. It
may seem harmless to throw an
apple core or banana peel into
the brush, but even small scraps
attract rodents and scavengers
to the roadside. And where
rodents go, predators like owls
and hawks follow putting them
directly in harm’s way.
3. Dim your porch and
yard lights when possible.
Minimizing excess outdoor
lighting not only preserves
NOVEMBER 2025 SUNRIVER SCENE
our region’s treasured dark
skies, but it also helps protect
nocturnal and migrating birds.
Many bird species navigate by
the stars; bright artificial light
can disorient them and lead to
fatal collisions with structures
or vehicles.
Here in Sunriver, we live
in the midst of an incredible
ecosystem where humans and
wildlife coexist. Migration season is a reminder of just how
alive our nights are, and how
much care is required to live
responsibly among the animals
that call this place home.
So, as you head out on your
evening drive, take a little extra
care.
Slow down, look around and
remember that just beyond the
glow of your headlights, the
wild world is moving, too.
The Sunriver Nature Center
& Observatory is located at
57245 River Road, off Circle
3, on the way to the airport
and marina. Check www.snco.
org for current hours, programs
and volunteering opportunities.
An owl struck by a car had to be euthanized due to the severity
of its injuries.
