Motorists who use Highway 18 are being urged to be extra cautious to avoid Roosevelt elk that will be crossing the road near a blind corner.

Auke Elzinga, who lives off Highway 18 not far from Duncan Meadows golf course, said he has real concerns fencing in the area has created a funnel-effect for the elk that will force them to cross the road at a corner near the course.

“I fenced them off my property about 10 years ago and my neighbours above me did the same things, as did my farming friends in Tansor,” he said last week.

“Now our golf course is pounding posts to fence their area off too and we’re going to have an elk corridor.”

Elzinga said the elk herd — which numbers between 30 and 40 cows, bulls and calves — will be forced to cross at an unsafe area.

“They’ll be standing on the highway and it will be an accident waiting to happen,” he said.

The elk herd, which typically stays in the area from November until April are a real danger, said Elzinga.

“Too many people have hit elk on the road as it is,” he said.

“There’s a big cut in the ridge and the animals will be hanging around there when people come around the corner at about 90 km/h and there’s no hope in hell for them.”

Denis Martel, of Wilderness Watch, agreed both elk and humans would be in danger because of the funneling affect.

“They fenced from Tansor, on the low side of the road, all the way to Judge’s farm by the Tansor service store,” he said.

“The elk just chose another route to get across and they will be vulnerable.”

But the risks are easily mitigated if drivers just pay attention to what’s going on, said Greg Kondas, conservation officer for the South Island zone.

“We are aware of what’s going on there and we are going to address it with signage to warn people,” he said.

“People have to pay attention to the signs.”

Kondas, a C.O. for the past 20 years, said he’s been to plenty of crashes involving larger animals and it’s never a pretty sight.

“People have been injured, or worse, and in just about every case there was signage warning people about the wildlife.”

Adult Roosevelt elk can weigh up to 600 pounds and can do plenty of damage if they’re struck on the road.

“It’s similar to hitting a horse,” Kondas said.

As in any potentially deadly situation, Kondas said prevention is the key.

“One message I’d like to send out to drivers is when you see a sign that tells you it’s a wildlife crossing, definitely pay attention — it’s no different than a stop sign or any other traffic device.”