JACKSON, Wyo. — With the snow melting rapidly on the valley floor, ungulates are transitioning from their winter range to summer habitats in search of food and moving along the valley’s roadways.
To avoid wildlife collisions, travel with caution, especially at night, dawn and dusk when wildlife-vehicle collisions are most likely to occur.
The most recent wildlife-vehicle collision (WVC) report complied data from the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT), Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) and Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation (JHWF) found that from May 2020 to April 2021, 165 WVCs were recorded. Collisions with wildlife are typically underreported and estimates suggest that collisions are two to four times higher. With underreporting in mind, an estimate of the actual number of WVCs for 2020-2021 ranges between 303 and 660 collisions.
JHWF has identified wildlife-vehicle collision hotspots in the area for elk, moose and mule deer. The maps below depict the density of collisions.
Tips for avoiding dangerous and costly collisions include:
• Drive the posted speed limit, especially at night, dawn and dusk as these are the times when animals are most active and hardest to see.
• Know that animals are more likely to be found where rivers and creeks cross under roads or are near the road.
• Scan the edges of the road for wildlife, in addition to the road surface and use high beams at night when there is no oncoming traffic.
• When an animal crosses the road, look for and expect other animals to follow.
• If an impact is inevitable, do not swerve. Try to release your brakes just at the moment of impact, this will scoop the front of the car up and help prevent the animal from coming over the hood of the car.
• Watch for other motorists’ behavior. Braking and flashing lights may indicate animals on the roadway.
• If you do have a collision with an animal, pull completely off the highway on the shoulder. Call 911 if there are any injuries to you or your passengers if the vehicle is unsafe to drive or if the animal needs to be euthanized. If the damage was minimal, still report the collision to the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation’s wildlife-vehicle collision database at 307-739-0968.
