JACKSON, Wyo. — The Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation (JHWF) shared tips for staying safe on Teton County roads after a high number of moose-vehicle collisions have been reported this past season.
According to JHWF, five moose have been killed in the last five months in wildlife-vehicle collisions on a one-mile stretch of WY390, also known as the Moose-Wilson Rd. On average, 3.5 moose-vehicle collisions have been reported annually on WY390 over the past 10 years.
“Thanks to our partners at Wyoming Department of Transportation, Teton County and Wyoming Game and Fish Department, wildlife can cross the highway safely at the intersection of WY22 and WY390 due to newly completed wildlife crossing structures and funnel fencing,” JHWF Executive Director Renee Seidler said via press release. “However, just north of the newly built project, dense development and access roads on WY390 make it challenging to create effective mitigation solutions.”
JHWF wrote that collisions with wildlife can often be prevented by modifying driving behavior. Studies show that speed is one of the most controllable factors.
Here are some tips to keep safe on county roads:
- Reduce driver distractions and increase driver awareness by focusing on the task of driving and not engaging in deep conversation either on the phone or within the vehicle.
- Do not use a phone or other tools while driving.
- Scan the sides of the road for wildlife when driving.
- Drive no faster than the speed limit. In compromised conditions, such as during rain or snowstorms or at dawn, dusk or night, reduce speed by 10 miles per hour or more as needed.
- When an animal crosses the road, there are likely to be others following, so reduce speed and scan the roadsides.
- Learn how to recognize important wildlife habitat such as creeks, streams and other waterways passing under or along the road, and increase awareness for wildlife in these areas.
- Flash hazard lights when there is wildlife near the road, in case sudden braking is needed to avoid a collision.
Teton County’s Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Database Summary Report shares more information on wildlife-vehicle collision hot spots in the valley.
