While appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse program Wyoming Highway Patrol Lieutenant Erik Jorgensen warned listeners to keep a heads-up for animals near and on Wyoming’s roadways.
According to the Game and Fish, based on crash and carcass data, the department accounts for approximately 6,000 big game animals like moose, bighorn sheep, elk, deer and antelope that are killed each year on Wyoming roads. The Game and Fish Department and Wyoming Department of Transportation work together to formulate this number.
Jorgensen reported he and his team of troopers have seen an unusually high number of dead animals on the road and responded to a high number of calls to animal collisions this fall. Although Jorgensen realizes this type of accident is typical and expected for the region, he asks that motorists remain vigilant while driving, especially during the early morning and evening hours when animals are most active.
With the staffing problems currently faced by the WHP, it may take some time for a trooper to arrive on scene, but should a collision occur, Jorgensen recommends calling the WHP and reporting the incident.
Lt. E. Jorgensen
Game and Fish Statewide Migration Coordinator Jill Randall reported the number 6,000 represents only the collisions the departments know occur. However, Randall reported that there are hundreds of crashes that go unreported and big game that die away from the road or on county roads.
More Like this
Last modified: October 12, 2022