AUGUSTA —Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap recounted a recent near-miss to remind motorists about the danger of wildlife on Maine’s roadways.

“I thought I saw a family of raccoons crossing the road,” he said in a news release. “I slowed down quickly enough to avoid hitting a large bull moose. What I thought was raccoons were actually the hooves of the moose.”

More than 5,000 crashes involving wildlife are reported each year in Maine, Dunlap said, noting that crashes with moose are especially dangerous because they are often 7 feet tall or larger.

In the last 3 years, Maine has experienced seven fatal accidents involving collisions with a moose, Dunlap said.

“As summer approaches, many large animals are moving about seeking food and mates. At dawn and dusk, roving animals are most difficult to see from a motor vehicle,” Dunlap said. “It’s always important to be vigilant in watching for obstructions in the roadway.”