It's mating season for a lot of wildlife, and the animals' amorous intentions can put drivers at risk, the Alberta Motor Association is warning.

"When animals are in the rut they can exhibit really erratic or aggressive behaviour," AMA spokeswoman Misty Harris told the Homestretch on Wednesday.

"They're not paying attention to their surroundings."

With the days getting shorter, most people are now driving home when it's dark out. That puts commuters on the roads at the same time that deer and other wildlife are more active, Harris says.

Bull elk can become extremely aggressive during the rutting season, which runs from September through mid-October. 0:44

She advised drivers to slow down, keep an eye out for for those triangular yellow signs indicating where wildlife is known to cross, and watch for groups of animals.

"The idea is never to assume that you're not going to run into wildlife," said Harris.

"We don't want the animals to pay the ultimate price for love, but we want to protect drivers first and foremost."

With files from the Homestretch