Why does a deer cross the road?

Because the sign told it to!

A radio station in Fargo, ND received this call which has since gone viral. I saw it first on AOL News, who’d copped the story from the Huffington Post’s Weird News section. Now people are sending it to me right and left.

It seems a woman identified only as Donna called in, concerned that deer crossing signs encouraged the animals to cross in high traffic areas. (What?) “It seems so irresponsible,” she said. “I’ve even seen these signs along the interstate!”

All of which leads us to the subject of wildlife literacy. Had Donna been active in such a cause, she may have realized the shockingly low percentage of deer able to recognize this symbolic silhouette. And realize that it means DON’T cross.

But take heart, Concerned Citizens. A solution to deer and driver safety has been found and implemented: 

 Yes, the highway department of Alberta, Canada has provided migrating herds their very own bridge. Rather than teach the deer signage, however, the Canadians rely on a clever system of fences for guidance.  See? Where there’s a will and an adequate tax base, there’s a way.