Stories from 2009
WYDOT sees success with wildlife underpasses
KEMMERER - With the installation of six deer underpasses on US 30 in Nugget Canyon completed and
the web cams installed, captured images indicate an early success of the underpasses.
In just a seven-day period, images on the new web cams document almost 800 animals using the new
underpasses.
The project was made possible using special state legislative funding obtained in 2007. The project
included the installation of the deer underpasses and 12 miles of deer fence to reduce the number of
wildlife killed on the highway. Deer mortality in the canyon is a significant concern because the
Wyoming Range mule deer herd has been declining in numbers over the past few years.
About 14,000 mule deer cross the highway each fall and spring as they migrate to winter range and
summer range. The majority of deer killed in Nugget Canyon are adult and yearling females, which could
have an impact the herd objectives of 50,000. On average, 130 mule deer have been killed each year in
deer-vehicle collisions since 1990. The risk to motorists is also an important concern.
The project stems from the 1986 Wyoming Legislature when it passed the Nugget Canyon Wildlife
Migration Project Act.
The act called for state agencies to work together to mitigate the problem of deer/vehicle collisions in
Nugget Canyon, a 15-mile stretch of highway between Kemmerer and Cokeville that bisects the
migration route of a subunit of the Wyoming Range mule deer herd. Over time, several mitigation
measures have been attempted in Nugget Canyon.
The risk to motorists is also an important concern. Between 2000 and 2001, before the installation of the
underpass, 225 deer were killed each year at milepost 30.5 alone, with 300 to 400 deer killed each year
between mileposts 35 and 42. Since the 2001 installation of the underpasses, that number has been cut
almost in half, said John Reed, maintenance foreman in Cokeville. With the installation of the newest
underpasses, the number is anticipated being reduced further.
Deer crossing traffic on US 30 was heaviest at milepost 35 and 36, at the east end of the deer-proof fence.
The study showed that the largest peaks in vehicle-caused mortality occurred in this area. The video
footage also indicated that in addition to the mule deer, the underpass was used by antelope, elk and other
species.
BREAKOUT
About 800 animals recently used the newly installed deer underpasses over a seven-day period on US 30.
The following is a breakdown by milepost of the number of animals that passed through.
Deer Underpass Location Number of Deer from Dec. 16 – 21.
MP 30.50
528 (1 bull elk)
MP 35.25
24
MP 35.96
135
MP 37.44
80
MP 38.23
6
MP 39.00
6
MP 40.62
14
Story written by Theresa Herbin, public involvement specialist for District 3.
One might think ensuring a safe and efficient transportation system might mean only for motorists,
pedestrians and bicyclists.
But the Nugget Canyon Mule Deer Underpass project brought in another aspect – moving wildlife safely
across one of the busiest highways in Wyoming that bisects the Wyoming Range mule deer winter range.
WYDOT hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the completion of the project to install deer
fences and underpasses on US 30 in Nugget Canyon on Aug. 27 at the Rock Creek turnout at milepost
38.23 in the canyon.
The project was a long-standing interdepartmental collaboration with over eight years of study and
engineering design processes, said District 3 District Engineer John Eddins, as he opened the celebration.
There was good data to suggest that deer would use the underpasses, he said.
History of Nugget Canyon
About 14,000 mule deer cross the highway each fall and spring as they migrate to and from winter and
summer range. Deer mortality in the canyon is a significant concern because the Wyoming Range mule
deer herd has been declining in numbers over the past few years. The herd was estimated in 2001 to be
about 43,000 deer. The objective for the herd is 50,000.
On average, 130 mule deer have been killed each year in deer-vehicle collisions in the canyon since 1990.
The majority of deer killed are adult and yearling females, which could have an impact on the herd
objectives, said William Rudd, of the Wyoming Game & Fish Department.
The risk to motorists is also an important concern.
The recently completed project stems from the 1986 Wyoming Legislature when the Nugget Canyon
Wildlife Migration Project Act was passed. It called for WYDOT and the WG&F to work together to
mitigate the problem of deer/vehicle collisions in Nugget Canyon, a 15-mile stretch of highway between
Kemmerer and Cokeville.
Over the last 20 years, several mitigation measures have been attempted in Nugget Canyon to reduce the
deer mortality and improve motorist safety.
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, former Sen. Boyd Eddins, who spearheaded efforts for the 1986 bill,
said when he served as a Lincoln County commissioner there were as many as 1,000 mule deer killed in
the canyon.
In the mid-1980s, WYDOT experimented with signage as a means to reduce the wildlife-vehicle collision
rates with little success. A Flashing Light Animal Sensing Host (FLASH) system was installed to detect
deer presence on the highway and alert motorists. Traffic slowed an average of 4 mph when they saw the
signs and flashing lights, but deer mortality remained high.
Most of the game mortalities were the result of motorists not adjusting their speed or paying attention to
the FLASH and signs.
In 1989, an 8-foot deer fence was built from milepost 28 to 35.5, about half the distance of the canyon.
One crossing area was left unfenced at milepost 30.5. Wing fences, escape ramps and lights were used to
help make the crossing location more successful. Although the fencing resulted in an overall reduction of
vehicle collisions with mule deer, an increase of animal kill concentrations were identified at milepost 30,
at the east end of the fencing system. Also, because there was only one crossing area in the 7.5 miles, deer
mortalities from the railroad increased.
To address this problem, crews installed an underpass and an 8-foot-high, deer-proof fence at milepost
30.5 in the summer of 2001, resulting in no deer mortalities being reported in the following year for that
location.
Between 2000 and 2001, before the installation of the underpass, 225 deer were killed each year at
milepost 30.5 alone, with 300 to 400 deer killed each year between mileposts 35 and 42.
Over the next three winters, WYDOT technician Dave Neilson tracked the migration across the highway
to determine the best locations for the underpasses and get a count of the preconstruction deer movement
rates across the highway.
The study recommended adding at least one additional underpass near mileposts 35 and 36, and extending
the deer-proof fence by at least three miles east of the current fence to prevent deer from moving around
that end of the fence.
Between fall 2000 and spring 2003, 7,078 mule deer utilized the underpass during the fall and spring
migrations.
During construction, Neilson said, “the key to the project’s success was the placement and design of the
underpasses. They needed to be placed in locations where the deer don’t have to learn a new migration
route, but they also needed to be designed in such a way that they weren’t afraid to use them.”
He explained that WYDOT and WG&F did a lot of experimenting with the first underpass, moving
wooden partitions around to get the most appealing height and width for the deer.
Neilson said that any obstruction of the other side would cause the deer to shy away from the
underpasses. He also said the floor of the underpasses would be covered with dirt, so it would appear
more natural.
This last phase of the project was made possible using special Legislative funding obtained in 2007. Hout
Fencing of Wyoming Inc., of Worland, was awarded the nearly $4 million contract to install the six
additional underpasses and 12 miles of deer fence between mileposts 35.220 and 41.720.
In 2008, the Average Daily Traffic Count on US 30 through the canyon was 1,640 vehicles, and 770
trucks.
End result
With the completion of the project, the entire 15-mile canyon is lined with wildlife-proof fencing that
funnels deer into the 12-foot-high by 20-foot-wide by 47.33-foot-long underpasses that include jump-out
ramps for any wildlife that may get onto the highway.
Resident Engineer Jennifer Hoffman said that the underpasses were built in pairs. During construction of
the first pair, traffic was detoured for 45 days and each of the remaining pairs required 30- to 40-day
detours. Using the precast boxes allowed the job to be completed in one season.
In December 2008, cameras were installed at each end of the culverts to document the use by the mule
deer. The consultant, Western Ecosystems Technology (WEST), is monitoring the use of the six highway
underpasses for the next three years as part of a joint project between WYDOT, WG&F and WEST.
Between December and January of 2008, more than 3,000 animals had used the underpasses, with the
majority being mule deer, but elk, coyotes, a bobcat and a badger also used them.
An important fact regarding the project is no federal funds were used to construct the underpasses, which
have nearly eliminated wildlife-vehicle collisions. Since the fall of 2008, the number of mule deer
carcasses picked up by maintenance crews has been reduced to 24. A location where deer could get onto
the highway was identified and resolved with no additional deer carcasses found.
During the celebration, Wyoming Transportation Commissioner Jim Latta said a Pinedale game warden
told him, for restitution purposes on poaching cases, that the WG&F values a mule deer at $4,000 and an
elk at $6,000. The average amount of damages to a vehicle after a collision with wildlife is about $2,000.
The economic savings to the state is huge.
Other participants in the celebration agree. “It’s truly a great success story for Wyoming, protecting both
motorists and deer,” said Rudd.
Story written by Theresa Herbin, public involvement specialist for District 3.
Stories from 2008
Message trailers arrive to reduce roadkills
Pinedale Motorists traveling highways in Sublette County will soon be noticing the latest effort to reduce
vehicle-wildlife collisions on area roadways.
Four new portable dynamic message trailers have arrived and will be placed at key wildlife crossings
along highways by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to remind motorists to slow down and
watch for wildlife.
The message trailers will be placed in pairs both north and south of Daniel, starting along WYO 189/191
between the Forty Rod Road and Trappers Point and south of Daniel along WYO 189 near the Grindstone
Butte/Ryegrass area.
Placement of the message trailers is part of ongoing cooperative effort by game and fish and WYDOT to
reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions in the Pinedale area. “We are blessed with abundant big
game numbers here in Sublette County, but those animals can be dangerous when along our roadways,”
said Bernie Holz, Pinedale Wildlife supervisor for game and fish. “Unfortunately, our highways happen
to bisect migration corridors for thousands of deer, antelope, elk and moose, and a lot of these animals
are killed in vehicle collisions each year.”
Holz said the highest number of animals is hit during the spring and fall migrations, which generally
occur during March through May and October through December each year.
WYDOT said that Sublette County has some highest numbers of wildlife-vehicle collisions in the state.
The beauty of these signs is that they can be moved periodically to where the problem areas are and the
messages can be changed, which tend to get our attention a little better, said Pete Hallsten, resident
engineer with WYDOT.
“I think we all tend to become immune to the stationary roadside signs, so these are a much more
effective tool to help reduce the number of roadkills,” he said.
The four message trailers were purchased by Ultra Petroleum as mitigation for winter drilling on big
game winter range and donated to game and fish for placement. An additional four message trailers have
also been funded through the Jonah Interagency Office (JIO) and will be added to the effort later this
year.
Nobody wins in a wildlife-vehicle collision, Holz said. The animal usually dies, and at a minimum, the
motorist is left with a hefty repair bill, if not seriously injured.
Story submitted by Wyoming Game & Fish
Deer underpass to be installed in Nugget Canyon
KEMMERER - Take a drive down WYO 89 between Sage Junction and the Utah State Line, and you'll
see what’s beginning to look like a small town cropping up in the middle of nowhere.
You may wonder, “What's going in out here?”
Stacked up in two neat rows are two dozen precast sections, measuring 20 feet high and 12 feet wide
each, and certainly large enough to “be” something. There's no mystery – nothing is going “in” at the
site.
Last July, Hout Fencing of Wyoming Inc., of Worland, was awarded a nearly $4 million contract to install
deer fences and deer underpasses on US 30 in Nugget Canyon using special state Legislative funding.
The contractor has been hauling in precast sections of the deer underpasses to the State Line Pit site that
will be installed later this summer between milepost 35.2 to 41.5 on US 30 between Fossil Butte and Sage
Junction.
Deer mortality in the canyon is a significant concern because the Wyoming range mule deer herd has
been declining in numbers over the past few years. The herd was estimated in 2001 to be around 43,000
deer. The objective for the herd is 50,000.
About 14,000 mule deer cross the highway each fall and spring as they migrate to winter range and
summer range. On average, 130 mule deer were killed each year in deer-vehicle collisions since 1990.
The risk to motorists is also an important concern.
While no date has been set for the contractor to begin work, WYDOT Resident Engineer Jennifer
Hoffman said it would depend on the weather.
“I would imagine that May 1st is a pretty good estimate for the contractor to be getting on the road and
actually starting activities that will disrupt traffic. Between now and then, Hout may start working in the
right-of-way but nothing that will stop traffic,” she said.
In the immediate area of construction, temporary traffic lights will be set up at either end of the work
zone. Motorists should expect up to 20 minute delays, both during the day and at night since these traffic
lights will be working 24 hours a day.
Periodically, there will be pilot-car operations during the day while the underpasses are being
installed. As each location is finished, the traffic lights will be moved further east and reset.
WYDOT will make every effort to minimize the delays and keep traffic running as smoothly as possible,
but the everyday commuters and vacationers need to be aware of the possibility for long delays and plan
accordingly. The completion date for the project is set for Oct. 31.
Story written by Theresa Herbin, public involvement specialist, District 3.
Steering clear of wildlife along one section of roadway in southwest Wyoming just got a little bit easier.
WYDOT recently installed six wildlife underpasses and miles of deer fending along US 30 northwest of
Kemmerer. The project is designed to help ensure motorists and wildlife get to their destinations safely
without any collisions.
“This is a major migration route for the deer and elk, and we needed to do something, not just for the
deer, but for the traveling public too,” said Dave Neilson, Kemmerer transportation tech 1.
The section of road is especially vulnerable to collisions because it’s a major migration route of the
Wyoming mule deer herd. The loss of wildlife plus the injuries and expenses incurred by motorists
traveling that roadway prompted the state Legislature in 1986 to pass the Nugget Canyon Wildlife
Migration Act. The act called for WYDOT and other state agencies to work together to ensure the safety
of the traveling public and wildlife.
About 10 years ago, WYDOT installed the first underpass and deer fence to see if that would work. After
seeing positive results, WYDOT installed 12 miles of 8-foot-high deer fence and an additional six
underpasses, measuring 12 feet high by 20 feet wide.
The fencing ensures that deer and other wildlife can’t get on the roadways and directs them into the
underpasses. If they do get into the right of way, WYDOT had wildlife ramps installed so the animals can
get out, Neilson said.
Jennifer Hoffman, Kemmerer resident engineer, said the underpasses and fencing should help the
roadway.
“For the past 20 years or so it’s been noticeable that this area is a definite migration route,” she said. “It’s
resulted in a lot of deer kill. We studied where the deer were crossing naturally and where they were
getting hit and we tried to put the underpasses there to help Mother Nature along and reduce the
collisions.”
The work, which was done by Hout Fencing Inc., of Worland, was completed in October. WYDOT will
continue to monitor the underpasses and if they’re successful, they could be used in other parts of the
state, Hoffman said. Other states also are taking notice of the work WYDOT has done. Some have asked
for more information on the project to see if similar systems could be used in their states, Hoffman said.
With the fall and spring the times when wildlife migrate, WYDOT will soon learn how effective the
project is.
Neil Hymas, Cokeville game warden for the state Game and Fish, said he anticipates it will work.
“Theses passes will be used by the mule deer, a large number of elk, bands of antelope and even moose,”
Hymas said. “The underpasses will increase the safety of all big-game animals.”
Without the underpasses, Hymas said the outlook could be bleak for wildlife, especially the mule deer.
“They’re survival depends on getting across Highway 30 and to their winter ranges,” Hymas said of the
mule deer. “The folks at Game and Fish are really pleased with the efforts of WYDOT to ensure that the
traveling public and wildlife are both safe.”
Story written by Aimee Inama, Public Affairs assistant.
Want to save money?
How about your life?
Then pay attention to the dynamic signs WYDOT puts in several key locations in Sublette and Teton
counties. Those signs have been alerting motorists for the past few years on areas that are prone to having
wildlife on the roadways.
The signs are designed to prevent wildlife/vehicle collisions in high-crash areas, and is another tool
WYDOT uses in preventing crashes.
“As the traffic increases, it’s becoming more of a human safety issue, than just a few deer getting hit,”
said Pete Hallsten, resident engineer in Jackson.
Hallsten said he has eight signs of which four are dedicated to wildlife crossings. Those signs were paid
for by the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation. The signs are vital when animals are migrating or if an area
sees a lot of wildlife in one particular area.
“Right now is when we’ll start seeing a lot of animal hits,” said Ed Smith, maintenance foreman in
Jackson. “We get a quite a bit in the winter. Usually, if you see one animal there’s probably going to be
more.”
The signs are programmable and can be changed remotely or at the site. Plus, state officials can have one
message on during the morning and then change it at night. The messages vary, depending on what
WYDOT wants to convey.
“We put messages up such as, ‘wildlife crossing, use caution,’ but we also put messages up that give them
a body count like ’15 deer killed this month, next two miles, use caution,’” Hallsten said.
The signs are placed in areas that see the most incidents.
“The (state) Game and Fish has been instrumental with these signs by helping find out the hot spots in
both Teton and Sublette County,” Hallsten said.
Motorists traveling in any part of the state are urged to be mindful of their surroundings and watch for
wildlife. Troopers with the Wyoming Highway Patrol routinely respond to crashes involving motorists
and wildlife.
Trooper Tonya Wilson, who is stationed in Cheyenne, has responded to several crashes involving wildlife
and motorists during her time on patrol. Although southeast Wyoming may not see as many large game
animals as the western part of the state, the crashes can result in similar damages to vehicles. The extent
of the damages also depends on the crash and the animal involved.
Wilson said she advises motorists to be careful when they’re traveling.
“You need to slow down, obey the speed limit, make sure you’re not distracted and always wear your seat
belt,” she said. “Wearing you’re seat belt is a major factor in keeping yourself safe.”
Story written by Aimee Inama, Public Affairs assistant.
Stories from 2007
Deer fences, underpasses will be installed
KEMMERER - During the July 19 bid letting, the Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded Hout
Fencing of Wyoming, Inc. of Worland, a nearly $4 million contract to install deer fences and deer
underpasses on US 30 in Nugget Canyon.
The project stems from the 1986 Wyoming Legislature when it passed the Nugget Canyon Wildlife
Migration Project Act. The act calls for state agencies to work together to mitigate the problem of
deer/vehicle collisions in Nugget Canyon, a 15-mile stretch of highway between Kemmerer and Cokeville
that bisects the migration route of a subunit of the Wyoming Range mule deer herd.
Deer mortality in the canyon is a significant concern because the Wyoming Range mule deer herd has
been declining in numbers over the past few years. The herd was estimated in 2001 to be around 43,000
deer. The objective for the herd is 50,000.
About 14,000 mule deer cross the highway each fall and spring as they migrate to winter range and
summer range. On average, 130 mule deer were killed each year in deer-vehicle collisions since 1990.
The majority of deer killed in Nugget Canyon are adult and yearling females, which could have an impact
the herd objectives, according to William Rudd of the Wyoming Game and Fish.
The fences and underpasses will be installed between mileposts 35.220 and 41.720 and the project is
expected to be completed September, 2008.
Reflector system aims to prevent animal-vehicle collisions near Kinnear
A mirrored wildlife reflector system has been installed along 1.5 miles of US 26 west of Riverton as part
of the recently completed $2.35 million pavement overlay project, said Jim Myers, Wyoming Department
of Transportation resident engineer in Riverton.
West of Kinnear near the old Wind River High School, 309 wildlife warning reflectors have been
installed every 50 feet on both sides of US 26.
"The intent is to keep deer, elk, moose and other wild animals - all which possess acute night vision from crossing a road until a car passes," Myers said.
"The Strieter-Lite warning reflector system has been proven 78- to 90-percent effective in preventing
car/vehicle collisions with deer and other wild animals," Myers said. "Headlights from passing vehicles
strike the reflectors, sending flashes of light across the road in both directions. The unnatural, moving
light patterns deter deer from crossing the roadway in front of the vehicle."
"The driver will hardly notice the effect of the reflector, because the light is being aimed across the road
and not toward the driver," Myers said.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there were an estimated 1.5 million animalvehicle collisions in the United States last year, resulting in more than 100 deaths, thousands of injuries,
and more than $1.2 million in property damage.
Stories from 2006
Wildlife Movement Enhancement a Key Component in Togwotee Trail Construction
Dubois, Wyo.- In answer to questions raised as to whether the Wyoming Department of Transportation is
expending time and funding toward improving wildlife movement on the Togwotee Trail construction,
the answer is a resounding “yes.”
As far back as 1995, wildlife issues were recognized and recommendations made in WYDOT’s
Reconnaissance Report for this 38-mile corridor. Those same issues are being addressed today and to a
greater extent. There are several efforts being made by WYDOT, which include a cooperative wildlife
movement study in conjunction the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the U.S. Forest Service and
the Federal Highway Administration that began in 2002. WYDOT also formed a wildlife movement
steering committee whose sole purpose is to review and evaluate the effectiveness of the study. The
committee is comprised of representatives from WYDOT, FHWA, USFS, WGFD, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and American Wildlands, a Montana-based conservation organization.
The study is broken into three phases. The purpose of Phase One was to gather baseline data relating to
existing road conditions, to identify “hot spots,” if any, where wildlife-vehicle collisions were
predominate and to identify core areas of wildlife movement throughout the corridor.
“Phase One showed that wildlife movement takes place throughout the entire corridor,” said WYDOT
Environmental Coordinator Bob Bonds. “And though there were areas along the corridor where more
instances of wildlife-vehicle collisions occurred, there were no hot spots per se.”
The study is in the midst of Phase Two, which Bonds said came about from the desire to find an effective
method to evaluate locations for wildlife undercrossings. This phase includes gathering information and
setting up cameras at strategic locations identified by WYDOT, USFS, WGFD and American Wildands.
Bonds said that WYDOT now has a season’s worth of information to evaluate effective wildlife crossing
areas and the need for structures that may improve wildlife movement across the highway.
Phase Three will deal with post-construction monitoring to gauge wildlife movement improvements and
to determine the effectiveness of the new crossings put into place during construction.
WYDOT also contributed $50,000 toward a moose movement study in cooperation with the Wyoming
Game and Fish Department. This study began in 2005 to track moose movement in the Buffalo Valley via
GPS collars. The data is being used to determine where the animals cross Highway 26-287 near the
Buffalo Fork River. A complete description of the study, results to date and the monitoring timeline is
available on the Togwotee Trail web site at www.GoTogwoteeTrail.com. Preliminary construction for the
second phase of the Togwotee Trail construction will begin in the Buffalo Fork area this fall.
“We have spent in excess of $1 million in wildlife movement enhancement efforts to date,” noted Bonds.
“One example is the new bridge on Buffalo Fork. We’ll be adding 115 feet to the length of it to enhance
wildlife movement in that area. This improvement alone will cost $766,000.”
A 10-foot-wide berm will also be placed under the west side of the bridge for easier wildlife crossings.
Corridor-wide improvement efforts include:
·
Timber clearing in strategic areas on each side of the highway to enhance sight distance for both
motorists and wildlife.
·
Lower speed limits to allow for more reaction time and lessen the chances of wildlife-vehicle
collisions.
·
Larger culverts and pipes to enable easier crossings for wildlife - e.g., 36-inch culverts will replace
existing 24-inch culverts in 12 areas in the Buffalo Fork project for a cost of nearly $25,000. On the
current Brooks Lake project, a 96-inch culvert replaced at 72-inch culvert for an approximate additional
cost of $12,000.
“WYDOT takes every aspect of this project seriously,” stated Shelby G. Carlson, District 5 engineer. “We
are concerned about the potential impacts at every level and wildlife movement is no exception. Wildlife
agencies, resource agencies and environmental groups are among those represented on our advisory
committee. We have worked hard to accommodate the concerns expressed. The moose study is
continuing through 2007 and the wildlife movement steering committee will continue to monitor the
wildlife movement study for the life of the project. We will keep using the data we receive to maintain
and improve wildlife movement along the project corridor as we progress.”
Extensive information on WYDOT’s wildlife movement efforts is available at
www.GoTogwoteeTrail.com in the “Media Room” link under Press Kit Materials.
Stories from 2005
PINEDALE - A project to help mitigate vehicle-wildlife collisions is complete as the Trapper=s Point
wildlife detection system on US Highway 191 near Pinedale is operating, according to the Wyoming
Department of Transportation.
After addressing some technical difficulties, the system went online the week of Oct. 17. Pinedale
Resident Engineer Bob Maxam said he was out at the site by 4:30 a.m. to check the system. He was able
to see the system work as wildlife crossed the highway and activated the signs.
AIt=s experimental, really. We=re out there on the leading edge,@ Maxam said. AIt=s never been done
before.@
Trapper=s Point is located about seven miles west of Pinedale where US 191 and WYO 352 intersect. The
two-mile project just west of Pinedale includes the latest technology to detect wildlife on the highway and
alert motorists to help minimize vehicle-wildlife collisions in a major wildlife migration route.
It is estimated that 3,000 mule deer and 2,000 antelope migrate through this Abottleneck,@ a term
Wyoming Game and Fish uses to identify narrow areas along a migration route. The bottlenecks are
created by topography, vegetation and development.
AThis has been an important deer and antelope migration corridor for thousands of years, but with the
increased traffic has come an increasing trend in the number of collisions,@ said Bernie Holz,
Jackson/Pinedale Regional Wildlife Supervisor. AWe=re really pleased we could coordinate with WYDOT
and experiment with this new technology. The timing for its completion is good since the deer are really
starting to move here recently.@
The $898,000 project consists of two types of sensors: motion and presence. The sensors activate signs
warning motorists of animals in the area. Six signs that read Adeer on road when flashing@ have been
placed throughout the project to alert motorists of animals in the area.
Each sign is designated for a specific zone. Once the system is activated, only the sign in that zone will
come on. Not all signs will be activated at the same time. Activated signs flash, indicating to motorists that
animals are in the area.
Maxam explained the project was challenging. He said the challenge was getting everything integrated
and working together.
AI=m not an electrical engineer, but I=m getting better,@ he said.
The latest data compiled by WYDOT showed that between 1984 and 2003, US 191 in the Pinedale area
had the most vehicle-wildlife collisions in the state. During that time, there were 390 crashes from
milepost 84 to 114 in the Trapper=s Point area. This is equal to about 13 crashes per mile, the highest rate
in the state.
AOne thing to note about this data is that animal crashes are under-reported and do not reflect the number
of carcasses or actual number of animals hit on the highway,@ Maxam said.
U.S. 26/287 wildlife crossing study receives federal >exemplary ecosystem initiative= status
The Wyoming Department of Transportation=s U.S. 26/287 wildlife crossing study between Dubois and
Moran Junction has been designated as an Aexemplary ecosystem initiative@ for 2005, according to the
U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
AAn (FWHA) objective is to increase ecosystem and habitat conservation through (state) agency
programs,@ said April Marchese, Director, FHWA Office of Natural and Human Environment on Oct. 18.
AFHWA demonstrates this objective through the identification and selection of Exemplary Ecosystem
Initiatives as the agency=s hallmark demonstration of environmental stewardship."
Timothy Stark, WYDOT environmental services engineer in Cheyenne, said concerns of resource agencies
and private conservation groups with potential fragmentation of the region by the proposed $120 millionplus in US 26/287 highway improvements resulted in ongoing studies by WYDOT to collect primary data
about wildlife crossing zones and wildlife-vehicle collisions.
AU.S. 26/287 passes through 37 miles of the Shoshone and Bridger-Teton national forest ecosystems, the
southernmost extent of grizzly bear habitat, and an important area for lynx, grizzly bear, wolf, moose, elk
and deer,@ said Stark. AInformation collected will be used to identify mitigation opportunities and
accommodate wildlife crossings into design plans, based on landscape-level habitat needs.@
Stark said benefits of the wildlife crossing study include meeting habitat access goals in the grizzly bear=s
final conservation strategy in the Greater Yellowstone Area and the Wyoming Grizzly Bear Management
Plan.
AThe ultimate results of these and other statewide efforts will enable WYDOT, FHWA, U.S. Forest
Service and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to identify, evaluate and implement (highway)
designs and maintenance practices,@ Stark said, Ato provide habitat linkage solutions that are effective for
wildlife and fish movement, habitat connectivity, and improved safety for motorists.@
Stark said the federal recognition of wildlife crossing study Amakes it an example to the rest of the
country. This federal program showcases premier practices going on throughout our country that other
DOTs need to follow. It is a showcase of our successful work, and it hit a home run with the Federal
Highway Administration.@
To date, 23 ecosystem and habitat conservation initiatives have been designated by FHWA as
Aexemplary@ since 2002. Descriptions of these initiatives are available on the Worldwide Web at
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/ecosystems/.
A... These initiatives (will be) distributed through other media as examples of the outstanding
environmental stewardship associated with important highway projects throughout the nation,@ Marchese
said.
AWe (will) continue to ... showcase examples of outstanding environmental stewardship through
ecological enhancements, mitigation or environmental measures that protect and preserve the natural
environment,@ Marchese said.
The U.S. 26/287 Togwotee Trail road improvement project will modernize more than 38 miles of U.S.
26-287 between Dubois and Moran Junction. Project letting on the Brooks Lake Section, the initial phase
of the project, is delayed pending a wetlands permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but
project=s web site, www.GoTogwoteeTrail.com, can be accessed and used.
He explained that most of the data is provided by WYDOT=s maintenance forces whereas some is
provided when the crash is actually reported by the motorist. However, many don=t report hitting an
animal and these figures don=t count animal carcasses that are off the highway. Maxam said if the
carcasses are off the road, they generally are not reported by the maintenance crews.
AWe=re hoping this system will help reduce those numbers,@ he said
Maxam explained the system has a one-year warranty. If problems arise, contractor Interstate Electrical
Contractors, Inc., of Wheat Ridge, Colo., will repair them and assist WYDOT in troubleshooting. In
addition, a camera with a digital video recorder (DVR) has been installed to essentially provide a checks
and balances system. The camera and DVR will come on whenever the system is activated to let WYDOT
see how well the system is working.
WYDOT=s District 3, which includes Sublette, Sweetwater, Lincoln, Uinta and Teton counties, has used
other wildlife mitigation efforts such as in Nugget Canyon west of Kemmerer. At this location, a wildlife
underpass and higher fences have been installed which have helped greatly to reduce vehicle-wildlife
collisions. The Nugget Canyon project will expand in 2006 as additional underpasses will be installed.