Police in Hildburghausen are urging drivers to follow strict rules after wild-animal collisions, after eight crashes were reported in just three days. Between 13 and 15 November 2026, the police inspectorate covering Hildburghausen recorded eight incidents involving wild animals. During the processing of the cases, police also initiated criminal proceedings over alleged breaches of the duties for people involved in a wild accident. Authorities say anyone involved must secure the scene immediately, notify the police, and must not take the injured or dead animal away. Police warn that taking the animal is considered game theft and is treated as a criminal offence. Police also warn that leaving a dead wild animal unprotected on a road can be punishable as a dangerous interference in road traffic by omission, if a later vehicle or person is concretely put at risk. If the animal is still alive, it must be checked by a hunter or by police to decide whether it can be rescued or must be killed. Animals that have died or escaped and are found in the roadside ditch should also be reported to the responsible hunting leaseholder, or the person risks an offence under the Thuringian Hunting Act. Police say the cases were handled by the Hildburghausen police inspectorate and note that the criminal proceedings were opened after injuries were linked to failures in duties following the crashes.