You may have seen them in Utah this winter: deer, moose and herds of elk nipping at salt-covered grass near the side of a road.

Most of the animals you saw were probably alive. But a fair number were probably dead, killed by vehicles flying down the road.

Roadsides attract big game animals because they're plowed and salted," says Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

"The plowing exposes the grass and other vegetation to the sun. That allows it to 'green-up' quicker than the other vegetation in the area. And the minerals in the salt are also something the animals want.

Deer, moose and elk are usually cautious near roads during the day. But as soon as the sun goes down, everything changes.

"The headlights of the vehicles blind the animals, and they can't see the cars," Aoude says. "They can see the headlights, but they don't know there's a vehicle attached to them."

Aoude provides the following tips to keep both you and the animals safe:

1. Slow down.

2. Put your cell phone down, keep your eyes open and be alert.

3. Instead of looking only straight ahead, scan the side of the road as you drive. "By the time the animals are in front of you, it's too late," Aoude says.

4. If you're traveling at night, keep your headlights on high beam as much as possible.

5. Watch for deer crossing signs. They'll alert you to areas that have high numbers of deer, moose and elk.

For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.