Do wildlife crossings save money and reduce car-vs.-animal crashes? | Fact brief
Yes.
Research shows wildlife overpasses and underpasses, typically paired with fencing, can sharply reduce crashes and save money over time.
Parks Canada reports that at Canada’s Banff National Park, highway fencing and 44 crossings have reduced wildlife-vehicle collisions by more than 80%, including more than 96% for deer and elk.
A Washington State University study of 13 crossings estimated $235,000 to $443,000 in annual benefits per structure from avoided collisions.
The Federal Highway Administration found that crossing systems can cost society less than allowing crashes to continue. Savings depend on location, construction costs and wildlife activity.
Nationwide, federal transportation officials estimate wildlife collisions cause about 200 human deaths and 26,000 injuries annually, costing more than $10 billion.
Maine is building a wildlife crossing beneath Route 1 in Caribou. Local police and game wardens estimate at least 12 wildlife collisions annually there. Work is scheduled to finish by spring 2027.
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Sources
- Parks Canada: Wildlife crossing structures and research; 10 quick facts about highway wildlife crossings in the park
- Sage Journals: Impact of Wildlife Crossing Structures on Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions (Washington State University)
- Federal Highway Administration: Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Reduction Study: Report To Congress
- U.S. Department of Transportation: Biden-Harris Administration Awards $125 Million in Grants to Improve Safety on America’s Roadways by Preventing Deadly Wildlife-Vehicle Crashes
- Maine Department of Transportation: MaineDOT to Work on Prestile Brook Bridge
- Maine Department of Transportation: Caribou Wildlife and Aquatic Habitat Crossing Project – Caribou, Maine
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Tagged: car crashes, highway safety, wildlife
