Keep an eye out for elk on the road, cautions the RCMP after two separate incidents involving the massive ungulates this morning (March 25).
Three elk were hit by vehicles in two separate incidents — two at 1:40 a.m. and one shortly after 6 a.m. — on Highway 22 near the Diamond Valley community of Turner Valley.
Turner Valley RCMP received a report of a collision with two unidentified animals, confirmed to be elk, by a vehicle at the intersection of Highway 22 and Township Road 370 at 1:40 a.m.
A second collision with an elk was reported by another driver shortly after 6 am. along Highway 22 at an unspecified location.
No injuries to humans were reported in either collision.
The conditions of the elk have not been confirmed by RCMP, though social media reports indicate the first two elk were found dead along the road while the third survived with serious injuries.
Elk typically migrate to higher elevations in spring, with large herds common in the Turner Valley area at this time of year. Drivers are advised to exercise caution, particularly when driving in low-light conditions.
Elk are Canada's second-largest deer species, following moose, and bulls can weigh up to 1,000 pounds.