United States Department of Transportation
i
Evaluating Wildlife Use of the South Jackson Project Highway Crossing Structures: Project Phase I
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2023-08-01
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[PDF-2.76 MB]
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Edition:Final Report
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Abstract:Roadways have the potential to negatively impact wildlife populations directly through vehicle collision mortality and indirectly through habitat fragmentation. The Wyoming Department of Transportation installed wildlife crossing structures and wildlife on US 89 between along a 3.6 mile stretch between Jackson and Hoback Junction to mitigate these impacts. In the three years after construction was completed (Nov 2019-2022), there were 6,156 recorded, independent events representing 18,918 animals where wildlife approached and/or used the underpasses. The most common species using the underpasses were mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and coyotes. Of these, elk exhibited the greatest seasonality in underpass use, primarily during the overwinter period. Vehicle collisions with large ungulates were reduced by an average of 75 percent annually within the project area. Collision reductions represent an annual estimated cost savings of $411,089. These findings provide evidence that the fencing and underpasses included in Phase 1 of the South Jackson Project improved highway safety for motorists while facilitating animal movement across the roadway.
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