Pronghorn Antelope, led by a lead female, run across the sagebrush flats after safely crossing the wildlife overpass in the Previous Photo above US HWY 191 near Pinedale Wyoming. Wildlife Overpasses and Underpasses like this one (underpass in foreground) can prevent upwards of 80% of collisions with vehicles, protecting humans and wildlife alike! Photo: Josh Metten Wyoming Residents can voice their support by visiting the Muley Fanatic Foundation website here. In addition, guides Laura Kruseski, Verlin Carlton Stephens, Mike Vanian, Chelse Grohman, Mariah Childs, Josh Metten, Mark Byall, and Amanda White, have all signed the pledge to purchase plates. Jackson Hole Ecotour Adventures is proud to support HB0039 and has committed to buying 6 plates for our vehicles should the bill pass. Thanks to GPS Collar Technology, wildlife biologists can map critical migration routes and use these data to accurately locate crossing structures for migrating wildlife. Structures already in place south of Jackson Hole have led to a nearly 80% decline in crashes, protecting our migrating wildlife and people on the road. Funding from the voluntary sale of license plates would go directly to the construction of wildlife crossing structures, fencing, and other highway mitigation measures which are proven to reduce wildlife collisions. HB0039, “Wildlife Conservation License Plates” was just introduced to the Wyoming Legislature today, and is a step in the right direction to protect wildlife migration corridors across highways in Wyoming. It doesn’t have to be this way, and fortunately a coalition of conservation organizations including the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Muley Fanatics Foundation, and Wyoming Wildlife Federation are working on a solution. 1 in 15 highway deaths in Wyoming involves wildlife and damage to vehicles can exceed $10,000. Collisions with wildlife are dangerous and costly. I was lucky, the car was relatively undamaged and I was uninjured. Statewide, close to 3000 animals are struck and killed annually. That’s outside of Grand Teton National Park, where in recent years grizzly bears and wolves have been killed by vehicles. I hit the brakes, but it was too late, the doe went under the car and was killed instantly.Īround 50% of Teton County, WY residents have been involved in wildlife collisions, and last year over 360 deer, elk, and moose were lost. For me it was on Christmas Day, I was driving early in the morning in a light snow storm when out of the darkness a white tail doe appeared in my headlights. Migrating Wildlife are increasingly at risk of vehicle collisions in Wyoming, a danger to motorists and the future of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Photo: Josh Metten
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