People devastated by vehicle collisions with moose are suing the government of the eastern province of Newfoundland and Labrador for failing to manage the moose population. The class-action suit started Wednesday and involves 135 plaintiffs including at least 15 estates of those who died in accidents dating back to 2001.
About 800 accidents or close calls between moose and vehicles are recorded annually. The animal typically weighs between 360 and 450 kilograms. It is tall enough so that most often the vehicle breaks the animal’s legs and it’s carcass comes flying over the hood, crashes through the windshield and crushes anyone in the front seats.
Moose are not native to the island of Newfoundland and were introduced by the government more than a century ago. Since then, their numbers have exploded and almost everyone on the island knows someone who has been involved in a collision with them.
The government has installed fences, as well as sensor-and-warning systems on portions of some highways. But the plaintiffs say that’s not enough.
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