Catalonia is the region with the third highest number of accidents due to collisions with wild animals.
63% of serious accidents in Catalonia throughout 2024 were due to collisions with wild boars, with a very high incidence in the province of Lleida.
Accidents involving collisions with wild animals have not decreased in Catalonia for more than ten years, according to a Study by the opinion research center Ponle Freno and the Axa FoundationCatalonia ranks third in Spain in terms of accidents caused by collisions with wild animals. Regarding the severity of these accidents, the mortality rate in Lleida stands out, with a high incidence, ranking second in the region with the highest number of fatal accidents caused by collisions with wild animals.
63% of accidents caused by collisions with an animal in Catalonia throughout 2024 were related to wild boars, followed at a considerable distance by fatal collisions involving dogs (11%), roe deer (9%), deer (7%), or other animals (11%). This reality is specific to Catalonia, since, while wild boars are the main cause of collisions on Catalan roads and roe deer occupy third place, with only 9% of the total, the contrast is especially striking with the rest of Spain, where roe deer account for 55% of recorded accidents. The study clarifies, once again, some of the most serious consequences of wild boar overpopulation in Catalan forests and how they can pose a very real danger to vehicle drivers, with particular emphasis on motorcycles.
The most critical moment of the year
The study also concludes that the times of greatest incidence and risk of collisions with wild animals in Catalonia are weekends—especially Sundays—and the months of October, November, and December. In contrast, the days with the fewest accidents recorded in Catalonia are Wednesdays and the summer months (June, July, and August). This is because during the summer months there are more daylight hours, and wild boars, roe deer, and deer wait until nightfall or early morning to search for food and water. During the fall, wild boars and other animals move to search for food in semi-urban areas during the afternoon and evening hours, coinciding with the afternoon and evening hunts.
Some prevention tips
Although it's difficult to avoid collisions with wild animals when they invade the road, taking some simple measures can help minimize the damage caused by these collisions, or even prevent them.
To prevent these accidents, it is important to heed marked sections warning of animal presence, especially when driving—especially at night—on local or regional roads in rural areas. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain the vehicle's lighting system (clean headlights and bulbs) and windshield in good condition to ensure optimal visibility during the hours of darkness and to adjust your speed to allow for greater reaction time. Finally, it is important to avoid sudden steering movements; if driving, it may be preferable to brake suddenly and hit an animal head-on than to leave the road or enter the oncoming lane and collide with another vehicle.
If, despite everything, we have an accident, we must immediately call the emergency number 112 and mark the space to avoid further collisions with other vehicles by using the mandatory visibility systems. However, it is advisable not to get too close to a wild boar after a collision, especially if the animal is still alive and badly injured, as it can be dangerous to humans.
