What to do if you hit wildlife in Nova Scotia?

In Nova Scotia, a collision with wildlife should be treated like any other motor vehicle collision under the Motor Vehicle Act: you must stop, ensure safety, exchange information if another vehicle is involved, and report the collision, if applicable. From an insurance standpoint, damage from directly hitting an animal is usually handled under comprehensive or all‑perils coverage, not as an at‑fault collision, but you still need to notify your insurer promptly and follow their process.

Here are some more dos and don’ts if you find yourself in this circumstance:

Do:

• Stop safely. Pull completely off the roadway if you can do so safely, turn on your hazard lights, and assess whether anyone in the vehicle is injured.
• Call 911 if anyone is injured, the vehicle is creating an immediate hazard, there is a serious road obstruction, or you otherwise need emergency assistance. Nova Scotia advises calling 911 when health, safety, or property is threatened and immediate help is needed.
• Report the collision as required. The current Nova Scotia Driver’s Handbook says a collision involving bodily injury/death or $2,000 or more in property damage must be reported.
• Document everything. When it is safe, photograph the vehicle damage, the roadway, warning signs, and the animal/location. Note the exact road, direction of travel, time and approximate location.
• Contact your insurer promptly. Keep photographs, towing/repair information and any police or collision-report information. The province recommends contacting your own insurer regarding vehicle damage in the first instance.
• Report an injured or dead wild animal to Nova Scotia Natural Resources and Renewables, particularly if it remains a hazard or is a species of conservation The province lists 1-800-565-2224 for wildlife concerns.Give emergency responders a precise location if you call from a cellphone, including road number, nearby signs, kilometre markers, intersections or civic numbers.

Don’t:

• Don’t stand in or near a live traffic lane to inspect the animal or vehicle.
• Don’t approach, touch, move, or try to rescue the animal yourself.
• Don’t assume a seemingly dead animal is harmless. A badly injured deer or moose, for example, can react unpredictably.
• Don’t put an injured wild animal in your trunk or passenger compartment. Contact DNR/wildlife authorities instead.
• Don’t leave the collision scene without dealing with the applicable reporting requirements. Nova Scotia’s handbook states that drivers involved in a collision must stop immediately.
• Don’t risk another collision trying to avoid an animal at the last second. If an animal suddenly crosses your path, braking firmly while maintaining control is generally safer than making a violent swerve.

When someone else might be legally responsible

Most wildlife collisions involve wild animals with no identifiable owner, so there’s often no third party to sue. However, liability issues can arise if:

• The animal was livestock or a domestic animal that was on the road due to negligent containment (broken fence, open gate, etc.).
• A municipality or landowner failed to maintain required fencing or warnings in a known wildlife or livestock area.

In those situations, your documentation (photos of fences/gates, ear tags, witness statements, animal control reports) becomes important for any potential third‑party claim. Your insurer may pursue subrogation (i.e., recover what they paid you for property loss) from the responsible party if liability is clear.

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