Like a bridge over troubled asphalt

[samhexum]

Deer, bears and other wildlife use Utah’s animal-only bridge

 

 

It’s a real-life animal crossing.

 

New video shows a stream of deer, porcupines, bears and bobcats walking over an interstate highway in Utah — using the state’s first wildlife bridge.

 

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources shared the footage last week, showing that the $5 million Parleys Canyon Wildlife Overpass near Salt Lake City is being used as intended.

 

“It’s working!” the agency wrote on Facebook.

 

The state’s Department of Transportation took on the project as a way to reduce vehicle collisions with critters on Interstate 80, local outlets reported.

 

The 350-foot long animal-only bridge was completed in 2018. In the two years prior, there were at least 106 vehicle crashes with wildlife, killing about 64 animals.

 

Complete data wasn’t immediately available for the years since the overpass was completed. However, UDOT spokesman John Gleason told the Salt Lake Tribune last year that early results were “encouraging.”

 

“From what we can tell, the number of accidents there is down dramatically,” he said. “At least initially, it appears the investment in safety is paying off. And we expected it to take several years before the animals got used to using it, so this is great.”

 

To make the bridge more appealing to wildlife and help it blend into the surroundings, crews placed dirt, rocks and boulders on the crossing.

 

“We want to make the bridge feel as much a part of the surroundings as we can,” Gleason said. “It’s a win for both wildlife and people that drive on the road.”

 

Six miles of fencing were also put up to make sure wildlife would make use of the overpass, instead of trying to cross the interstate.

 

“As you can see, the 2nd year of this overpass has been successful at helping wildlife safely migrate over busy Interstate 80 and helping motorists be much safer as well,” the Division of Wildlife Resources said.

 

 

[+ WilliamM]

In Yellowstone National Park it is often up to the grizzly bears and wolves to cross the roads on their owns. But, the park ranges help and stop the traffic whenever possible

[samhexum]

it is often up to the grizzly bears and wolves to cross the roads on their own

 

What about (the) chicken(s)?

[+ WilliamM]

What about (the) chicken(s)?

 

No chicken at Yellowstone. But there are many wolf packs and a ton of grizzly bears My brother writes books about the Yellowstone wolves. Robert Redford wrote the introduction to the book published in 2019. And my brother is friendly with Harrison Ford's family

[samhexum]

My brother writes books about the Yellowstone wolves. Robert Redford wrote the introduction to the book published in 2019. And my brother is friendly with Harrison Ford's family

 

 

NAME-DROPPER! ? ?

[samhexum]

I just noticed that at the 1:30 mark, a little varmint scampers above a boulder and then at 1:40 a larger animal emerges from behind the boulder with the varmint in its mouth. Ah, nature!

[wsc]

What about (the) chicken(s)?

A cartoon I once saw shows two chickens facing each other from opposite sides of a road. One shouts to the other, "How do I get to the other side?" The second chicken replies, "You're on the other side!"

 

Not bright, perhaps, but tasty.

Edited November 27, 2020 by wsc

[wsc]

I just noticed that at the 1:30 mark, a little varmint scampers above a boulder and then at 1:40 a larger animal emerges from behind the boulder with the varmint in its mouth. Ah, nature!

I thought that to be a mother carrying a young one, but it could have been dinner.

 

Seeing the variety of animal users of the bridge, I did wonder if there were reports on predator-prey encounters. The bridge could become the Utah equivalent of an African watering hole, or a kind of 7-11 for wolves and cougars.

 

Overall, however, an excellent solution for both motorists and the furrier life forms. Well done!