Bear Hit by Car on Highway 154
By an edhat reader
Just PSA/reminder to please use caution when driving in the mountains and foothills of our area. This morning while driving on Highway 154, I saw a large bear that had been hit by a car on the side of the road near Rancho Allegre/Lake Cachuma.
It was initially reported on the CHP website at 11PM last night, and it was still there when I passed by shortly before 7AM. Super sad. Please be safe and mindful of our local wildlife out there.
7 Comments
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Jun 10, 2022 12:30 PMThat’s a bummer. I would’ve thought that would cause a crash. Big animal. There are lots of speeders on 154 and the zone right there by the lake entrance is real tight and not good for the speeders. That said, sometimes animal collisions are unavoidable. I came around one of the bends in there last spring and absolutely plowed a turkey that was just standing right in the middle of the road on a blind curve. I had no chance to avoid, and nor did the bird.
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Jun 10, 2022 01:26 PMFor sure, I totally get that some accidents aren't avoidable. It looked like the bear wasn't struck at a high speed, however traveling through there every weekday for work I can't help but think a lot of the wildlife casualties may be avoided if drivers stuck to the 45 MPH posted speed limit through the narrower winding sections of the road.
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Jun 10, 2022 03:54 PMI don't think there's any way a car hit a bear and there's no sign of a crash. Maybe the bear just died? Maybe it was shot? If a car hits a bear, there will be a damaged car nearby.
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Jun 10, 2022 06:44 PMGood point. Very well could have passed away just off the road. Orrrrrr....Maybe it was a truck or..... an RV or..... tractor/trailer or ....any number of vehicles. I suppose if it were a Prius, Smart car, Tesla, etc., the car would be inoperable.
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Jun 11, 2022 01:02 PM@littlebaby ...bears have not decided to die by roads, they get hit by cars just like the
one that was hit on May 17, 2022 https://www.edhat.com/news/black-bear-cub-orphaned-by-montecito-hit-and-run
Human's have encroached on nature, we need more safe passage ways for wildlife
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/wildlife-overpasses-underpasses-make-animals-people-safer
Wildlife Crossings
Bridges and tunnels specifically designed for animals can reduce the environmental impact of highways.
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/wildlife-crossings
Every animal benefits humans, they help manage healthy forests and in turn healthy eco systems providing for improved air quality, water quality, food security , balance predator prey, and much much more. While Nature provides these benefits to humans for free, their value is not appreciated until it's too late. So sad...
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Jun 11, 2022 11:58 AMToo damn sad
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Jun 12, 2022 01:32 PMI did not read anything about the cub whose mother was hit and killed in Montecito a couple weeks ago. Unless I hear differently, I trust that the cub made it to Honey Hill, which is located between Blueberry Creek and Huckleberry Meadow. I hope it's true that Honey Hill is where the clouds are made of marshmallows covered in Grade A maple syrup, Cap',n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch cereal, and fresh-whipped Devonshire cream.