Tragic wildlife accident: Motorcyclist dies after collision with deer

Tragic wildlife accident: Motorcyclist dies after collision with deer

A tragic incident occurred on September 25, 2025 on the country road between Petschow and Bandelstorf in the Rostock district. A car hit a deer, which then spun into oncoming traffic. In this accident, a 41-year-old motorcyclist was hit by the animal, fell and died at the scene of the accident. The driver was uninjured, but the road had to be temporarily closed after the accident to carry out the investigation and clean-up work. According to n-tv.de, this is further sad evidence of the dangers that accidents involving wild animals in road traffic bring with them.

Accidents involving wildlife are a big problem in Germany. An accident like this happens every two minutes, and around 265,000 wildlife accidents were reported in 2022. Every year, over a million wild animals die in collisions with vehicles, as the ADAC reports. It is particularly dangerous in the late evening and early morning hours when animals often cross the streets in search of food. Deer are particularly affected: they account for around 85% of wildlife accidents, which underlines the urgency of measures to prevent wildlife accidents.

The risk of wildlife accidents

There are various reasons why wildlife accidents occur so frequently. The animals often travel at dusk or darkness, and they find fewer suitable crossing options on highways. Therefore, experts have paid special attention to the issue. It was noted that natural habitats located near roads should be targeted to keep animals away from the road. [Natur-und-Landschaft.de]. 2%5BarticleXMLId%5D=NAuL-09-2022-art-003&tx_smediamagazine_pi2%5Bcontroller%5D=Magazine&tx_smediamagazine_pi2%5Bmagazine%5D=1608&cHash=ef6566bbf9b639c6ce5628f9badb0d7a) shows that the number of unreported accidents involving wildlife is much higher than officially documented. It is estimated that up to one million animal accidents go unreported, making uniform documentation urgent across the country.

Another aspect is the insurance conditions. Partially comprehensive insurance covers damage to the vehicle caused by a collision with wild game, while fully comprehensive insurance covers damage to the vehicle that cannot be proven. However, many questions remain unanswered, particularly regarding responsibility in the event of collisions.

Prevention and recommendations for action

To avoid accidents involving wildlife, experts recommend driving with foresight and being more aware of the dangers when near forests or fields. The ADAC has also summarized specific behavior in the event of accidents involving wildlife. The hazard warning lights should be switched on and the scene of the accident secured. The police must be called and injured animals should not be touched. Animals found dead should be pulled to the side of the road wearing gloves, although wild animals should not be removed from the scene of the accident.

Awareness of accidents involving wildlife in Germany is particularly important in rural regions, as the number of personal injuries has remained constant since reunification. There are still between 2,300 and 3,500 accidents in which people are injured. Those responsible are called upon to take urgent measures to increase the safety of all road users - be they drivers, pedestrians or endangered wild animals.