When a young cop in Smithers, B.C. back in 1972, I was instructed to charge anyone hitting horses or cattle, with "driving without due care and attention" under the motor vehicle act.

Back then, BC, at least the North, was pretty much 'open range'.

There was no charge for hitting moose, bears or deer.

I investigated my first Fatal MVA there. A fellow in a red VeDub Bug hit a cow moose standing broadside on the highway one evening. The cow flattened the front end of the car right back to the rear seat, crushing the driver. According to the witness, the cow then got up, shook like a wet dog, jumped the fence in the ditch and trotted off across the field & into the bush.