FORT ST. JOHN -- When drivers in the Peace Region turn the key in the ignition this time of year, it's increasingly likely they'll find a deer in their headlights.

According to ICBC, nearly 13,000 claims for crashes involving animals were made last year, with over 3,000 occurring in the North Central B.C.

"The vast majority of wildlife vehicle collisions can be prevented with safe driving," said Jadzia Porter, Program Coordinator with the Wildlife Collision Prevention Program (WCPP).

The program was formed in 2001 in partnership with the B.C. Conservation Foundation and ICBC to mitigate a growing number of wildlife collisions.

Drivers in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek are being urged to use extra vigilance from November through January, with data showing we are now entering peak months for collisions involving deer.

Peak times for deer activity in Fort St. John are between 7:00-8:00 a.m., and evenings between 5:00-6:00 p.m.

In Dawson Creek, they range from 6:00-8:00 a.m., and again between 5:00-6:00 p.m.

“Wildlife are moving from their summer habitats to their winter habitats and as food in higher elevations becomes limited, then they kind of move down into the valleys which can have them crossing roads," said Porter.

If you encounter wildlife, and are forced to swerve, steer in the direction the animal has come from not where it's going, suggests Porter, while ensuring your vehicle is ready for the road by making sure you have proper tires, functioning brakes, and a clear windshield.

WCPP also recommends practicing active driving by scanning the roadsides and watching for wildlife in the ditches and ahead of you.

While some collisions may not be avoidable, if you are involved in an accident, call 9-1-1 for your injuries and, if you can, move your vehicle off the roadway. Authorities will contact conservation and highway maintenance services.

"You are never required to move an animal or to put an animal out of its misery," said Porter.

According to WCPP data, on average four people die and over 800 motorists are injured across the province in wildlife accidents every year, in addition to the 6,100 animals killed and thousands more that go unreported.