Migration Fences Along Wyoming Highways Are Saving Lives

If you've driven Wyoming's interstate highways recently you might have noticed some rather tall, new fencing running for miles along the roadside.

It doesn't take long to guess what it's for.

Migrating animals would jump the older, lower fencing and head across the highway.

The cost to human lives, animal lives, and property damage was enormous.

These new fencing systems force the animals to find what space is left open for them to cross under.

As you drive, watching that new fenceline, look for roads or large culverts that pass under.

That's left open for the animals.

Don't worry, they always find it, and then they pass safely under the interstate.

These long fencing areas are not needed everywhere. Studies were conducted over the years to find hotspots where herds migrate over the highways.

WYDOT plans to use a comprehensive combination of four specific elements: Fencing, underpasses, double cattle guards and jumpouts to reduce wildlife collisions and provide crossing opportunities for local animal species.

Fencing, in combination with underpasses and overpasses, can reduce collisions with large mammals by an estimated 80-99 percent, averaging 87 percent.

This project, according to Your Wyoming Link, is funded by a partnership.

The Partnership to Conserve Big Game Habitat in Wyoming led by the USDA, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and the Wildlife Fund, this program has allocated over $33.7 million to conservation efforts.