While the coming meltdown may be a welcome first step to the wrap-up of winter, it's not going to be without its complications. As snow melts, animals are more likely to start moving around, and as they do they're more likely to cross highways. 

While local emergency departments don't see as many crashes with wildlife this time of year as during hunting season, they do see an uptick in them during the spring. With daytime highs forecasted to be above zero in four of the next seven days, snow will melt and some animals will start moving more often. 

"They (animals) seem to be a little more active in the dusk and dawn times of day," said Estevan Fire Chief Dale Feser. "You'll want to pay a little more attention as when you're driving with a nice white background, they're fairly easy to pick up. As that snow melts, they camouflage into the surroundings there and get a little harder to see."

If you do spot an animal like a deer despite its natural camouflage, it's not likely to be alone. If one deer crosses the road or is standing nearby it, there's a good chance other deer are about and may try to cross the highway. 

"Typically if you see one deer beside the road surface there, typically in the ditch, you slow down to let them pass," said Feser. "Just keep in mind there's going to be typically more that's going to be following as well, especially with the moms and the fawns they'll be travelling in groups."

If you are about to hit an animal, Feser recommends against taking any drastic steering action or swerving, as that may put you in a worse position than if you'd just hit the animal in the first place. And if you do hit a deer, there's another precaution you need to take. 

"If you do hit some sort of wildlife, a lot of people are curious or want to make sure the animal is not suffering," Feser said. "You want to avoid any close contact, as they may very well still be alive and can cause death or injury to an individual, especially in the case of a buck where they have antlers."

Feser added as winter turns to spring, they see a few collisions with animals every year, but it's not always a dramatic rise in collisions from the winter and not as much as they usually see in hunting season.