JACKSON, Wyo. — After a series of six moose-vehicle collisions on WY390, the Village Road, in the last five months, the calendar is moving into the worst time of year for accidents between animals and cars.

The most recent incident occurred between a START Bus and a moose near Pizza Lane on Monday, Oct. 13, according to the Jackson Hole News & Guide. A similar scene happened at the end of September at nearly the same location. Local reporting has indicated that excessive speed was not a factor in either collision.

The Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation (JHWF) has been tracking the numbers and educating drivers on how to stay safe while traveling through the valley’s wildlife hotspots. JHWF said in an Oct. 6 press release that over the last 10 years, the annual average of moose-vehicle collisions reported on this area of highway has been 3.5.

A moose crossing WY22 at the top of Teton Pass on
Wednesday morning. Video: Nick Sulzer // Buckrail

JHWF Executive Director Renee Seidler told Buckrail that she has been poring over the historic data of moose-vehicle collisions on that stretch of road, and is still unable to come to a conclusion as to whether this season’s number is truly an outlier or not.

“It certainly is worrisome for human safety and wildlife, from my perspective,” Seidler said. “It could just be that it’s a weird year. … It seems like this year is worse than other years, but I don’t know if I can actually say that based on numbers.”

According to a 2022 study by the Nature Conservancy, statewide moose-vehicle collisions on roads maintained by the Wyoming Department of Transportation averaged 69 annually in a five-year time period between 2016 and 2020. The total cost per year associated with these collisions amounts to over $2 million, with $1.5 million in injury and damage, and $500,000 in lost wildlife value.

Seidler explained that this season is the worst time of the year for wildlife-vehicle collisions for many reasons.

“Animals are moving for migration,” Seidler said, “they’re distracted because they’re breeding, it’s hunting season — of course that doesn’t apply too much on private land like the Village Road, but it is still an important factor to consider.”

Add all that to the upcoming end of daylight saving time, and Seidler said it is a “concoction for disaster.” With the changing of the clocks on Nov. 2, commuters will begin heading to and from work an hour later. Animals are not expecting the change in traffic, and it will also be darker earlier in the evening. A 2022 study about deer-vehicle collisions showed that accidents increased by 16% in the week following the autumn clock change.

The speed limit on WY390 is posted at 45 miles per hour, and 35 miles per hour at night. Seidler views speed as a general factor in collisions, even if a driver isn’t traveling above the limit.

“If you see an animal crossing the road in front of you, and you’re going 55 miles per hour, it takes you a greater distance to stop than if you’re going 35 miles per hour.”

Monica is a Staff Reporter who studied journalism at Syracuse University and has been in the valley since 2015. She loves writing about the local food and bev scene, especially craft beer. When she’s not on the clock, you can find her paddle boarding, sewing, or whipping up a new recipe at home.