Flooding in Illinois displaced thousands of people this spring. It also forced wildlife out of their habitat. That could lead to more animals roaming near roads. Tim Schweizer is a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources:
“They'll go where they need to go. When the waters recede, they'll get back to the areas they normally would be. It's just like the rest of us when things get back to normal, they'll get back to normal. But until then, you might see deer, turkey, and other critters in areas where you might not normally see them."
Schweizer says drivers should be extra alert. Spring is also prime nesting time for the state's water fowl and wild turkey populations. Schweizer says DNR officials don't intervene during floods because the birds still have time to build new nests.