AUBURN – Two moose-car collisions on well-traveled city roads caused more than $9,000 in damages to the vehicles involved.

A 2003 Toyota SUV driven by Estrella Bienvenido of Auburn struck and killed a moose that had jumped onto Washington Street early Saturday morning.

Bienvenido, 67, of 1 Oak St., was driving north on the road about 12:30 a.m. when the accident occurred. The SUV sustained about $6,000 in damages.

Two days earlier, Andrew W. Webster, 42, of Weld, was driving south on Center Street around 5:30 a.m. when a moose jumped in front of his car. The collision caused $3,000 damage to his 1991 Ford sedan and injured Webster’s hand.

The Maine Department of Transportation has issued warnings to motorists that May and June are often peak months for moose-car collisions. Each year about 700 such collisions are reported.

Moose are often attracted to roadsides during the spring because of the abundance of fresh greens. Safety officials advise motorists to watch for the animals, especially at dawn and dusk.

If a collision is unavoidable, they recommend the driver apply the brakes and steer straight, then let up on the brakes just before impact to allow the front of the vehicle to rise slightly, and aim to hit the tail end of the animal. That reduces the risk of the moose hitting the windshield and increases the chances of missing it altogether.

– Carol Coultas