JACKSON, Wyo. — Last night just after 8 p.m. a blonde black bear was killed after being struck by two cars on Teton Pass, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) Jackson Region Office.
The accident happened near mile marker 15 near the Idaho/Wyoming border. A car traveling eastbound struck the bear first and then another car traveling westbound collided with the bear. The bear was dead by the time Jackson Game Warden Kyle Lash arrived on the scene.
“The second collision was more of a direct hit. The drivers reportedly had no time to react,” said Mark Gokee, WGFD Public Information Specialist. The second vehicle was totaled due to the impact.
No injuries were reported and no citations were issued to either driver.
Gokee explained that a roadkill deer in the same vicinity of the accident might have attracted the bear to the roadway. The accident also occurred on a stretch of road that has thick trees on both sides of the road. Animals can leap out and not be seen until it’s too late.
“Wildlife vehicle collisions is a no-win situation for all involved,” Gokee said. “This is a good reminder for us to all slow down because we live in this place with abundant wildlife.”
