Wyoming continues to lead the way for wildlife crossings

Greater Yellowstone is home to thousands of elk, mule deer, moose, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep. Wyoming’s public and private lands provide critical habitat for these animals, which are treasured by residents and visitors alike. With so many animals abound, wildlife can encounter roadways as they move to and from summer or winter ranges. To improve human safety and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by up to 90%, wildlife crossings are being built throughout the state in places where accidents are likely. 

Wyoming continues to lead the way as a model for GYC’s work to construct wildlife crossings around the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. We are working to bring new solutions to the region that help keep our landscapes permeable to wildlife and safe for those who live and travel through here. 

Trappers Point wildlife crossing is already considered a success in Wyoming. The state is leading the way in the construction of overpasses, underpasses, fencing and other means to keep families and wildlife safe. (Photo Mark Gocke)

We are making tremendous progress on planning and building wildlife crossings across the state. Earlier this spring, GYC helped sponsor the 2021 Wyoming Wildlife and Roadways Summit. The summit was well attended by highway engineers, wildlife biologists, and interested members of the public. Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) shared updates on wildlife crossing projects around the state. GYC presented how we partnered with others in the Jackson area to see wildlife crossings built using dollars from the county’s Special Purpose Excise Tax. You can listen to the recordings of the summit with these links: Day 1 recording and Day 2 recording. 

We also are celebrating the successful completion of the Wyoming Governor's challenge to Wyoming citizens to buy 2,020 wildlife conservation license plates. On June 8th, the Governor awarded the plate numbered 2020 to a contest winner for his conservation ethic essay. Funds generated from the conservation plate will help finance overpasses, underpasses, fencing, and signage to prevent vehicle/animal collisions. If you’re interested in finding out more about how to obtain a wildlife conservation plate go to: http://wildlifecrossingswork.com/. Seeing these license plates around Wyoming continues to serve as a reminder of the value of wildlife and how important it is to reduce wildlife vehicle collisions is to Wyoming. 

In Teton County, GYC is helping spearhead conversations to make the crossings along Highway 22-390 effective. We are deeply engaged in discussions with Teton County, pathway advocates, and WYDOT to address the construction of crossings and accommodate suitable pathways. We have proposed a system of fences, gates, and some novel technology using "electrocrete" (an electrified barrier for wildlife embedded in the concrete where pathways intersect fences). The plan remains for the installation of four wildlife underpasses in the 22-390 Snake River corridor, with construction anticipated to start in 2023. 

Elk crossing a highway in Wyoming. GYC is working to secure wildlife crossings in areas with high accident rates, helping reduce collisions by up to 90%. (Photo Mark Gocke)

In Sublette County, WYDOT has issued final plans for the Dry Piney project, which includes eight wildlife underpass crossing locations along Highway 189. The area has one of the highest rates of mule deer-vehicle collisions in the state. It is estimated that 3,000 mule deer, 300 to 500 pronghorn, 100 to 150 elk, and 50 to 100 moose cross this section of road annually. GYC helped move this project forward by securing a $14.5 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration, raising $400,000 in grants from the Volgenau, Knobloch, and National Fish and Wildlife Foundations, and worked with our non-profit partners to create a matching fund opportunity through the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust. 

Wyoming’s leadership and commitment to human safety by building wildlife crossings that reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions is a great model for other states to follow. We are proud to partner with agencies, county officials, our nonprofit partners, and citizens to help move these projects forward in Greater Yellowstone now, and for years to come. 

— Chris Colligan, Wildlife Program Coordinator

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 30+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.