(KMDL-FM) Louisiana is known for its abundant wildlife and wilderness areas. It's something we're quite proud. Countless species of wildlife live in Louisiana's wide-open spaces, and from time to time their lives and our lives, as drivers on Louisiana roadways, meet by accident.
Many drivers in Louisiana, if they have been on the roads for a few years, have an animal encounter story in their tales from the road. Sometimes, it's about a near miss; sometimes the outcome is far more gruesome than we'd care to describe in this narrative.
Louisiana Has Thousands of Animal Crashes Every Year
Between 2020 and 2025, it has been estimated that there were over 14,000 animal related crashed in Louisiana. The Federal Highway Administration says about 1.3% of all vehicle crashes in Louisiana involve an animal. The state averages 1.2 fatal animal crashes every year.
READ MORE: Hit A Deer While Driving? Here's What the Law Says About That
We should note that is fatal to the human driver, the incidence of mortality among the animal population is considerably higher, as you might imagine.
Where Do Most Animal/Vehicle Crashes Occur in Louisiana?
Incidences of car/animal collisions are kind of like real estate: when they occur, it has a lot to do with location, location, location. If you're driving in a neighborhood, your chances of encountering a deer are significantly less than your chances of encountering a cat or a dog.
Consequently, if you're driving on a rural road or near a bayou, your likelihood of encountering a Shih Tzu is less than an encounter with a beaver, bear, or nutria rat.
In the case of smaller animals, the outcome is not nearly as bad for the human driver as it is for the animal involved. However, you'll see about half the animals on our list can not only cause major damage to a vehicle, but the impact with them could cause serious injuries or death to the driver or passengers in the vehicle.
READ MORE: Endangered in Louisiana - 22 Species Make the List
So what are the animals a Louisiana driver is most likely to meet by accident? Here's our Top 10 list.
10 Animals Your Most Likely To Meet By Accident While Driving in Louisiana
Gallery Credit: Bruce Mikells
