September 2021 - 10

NEWS
Elk cross the road along the South Park Loop in Jackson. Donations of nearly $300,000 have been made since July 2020 to go toward roadway projects in Wyoming to protect people and wildlife.
(Photo by Mark Gocke/WGFD)
Donations for wildlife crossing
work exceed expectations
CHEYENNE - Nearly $300,000 in
donations are heading to fund projects for
overpasses, underpasses and fencing to prevent
wildlife-vehicle collisions on Wyoming
roads and highways. Officials say it's an
impressive start to the donation program
expanded by the Wyoming Legislature
to support roadways projects for wildlife.
Since implementation of SF0018 July
1, 2020, about $285,000 has been given.
The state legislation allowed for donations
to be made through the Wyoming
Game and Fish Department, Wyoming
Department of Transportation and Wyoming
State Parks and Cultural Resources
through the respective license and registration
systems for each organization. As of the beginning
of July 2021, $88,967 has been donated
through Game and Fish.
" The amount of donations to date has far
exceeded my expectations. I am ecstatic, " said
Angi Bruce, Game and Fish deputy director.
" This shows our hunters and anglers know
10 | September 2021
and understand the value of wildlife crossings.
Everyone who travels in Wyoming benefits
from this work. There is no doubt that wildlife
crossings make travelers safer. "
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
EFFORTS TO PREVENT WILDLIFEVEHICLE
COLLISIONS IN WYOMING
GO TO: HTTPS://WGFD.WYO.GOV/
WILDLIFE-IN-WYOMING/MIGRATION/
WILDLIFE-CROSSING
Gary Schoene, public information officer
for Wyoming State Parks and Cultural
Resources, said this donation option has been
" well-received by our generous customers. "
More than 6,000 big game animals like
deer, pronghorn, elk, moose, bighorn sheep
and mountain goats die each year from collisions
with vehicles in the state. To prevent
crashes, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission
has challenged others to step up and
contribute, along with some nongovernmental
organizations, private businesses and individuals,
sometimes through creative means.
One example is artist Jenny Reeves-Jackson
of Lander who presented a $1,800
donation to the Commission - the
proceeds of a special collection to raise
awareness for wildlife roadway safety.
Bruce said some of the funds raised
will go toward Game and Fish's top priority
for wildlife crossing work, which is
along Interstate 25 between Kaycee and
Buffalo. The rest will go into an account
held by WYDOT called the wildlife conservation
account.
" Wyoming has been a leader in wildlife
crossings in many ways, " Bruce said. " These
contributions by citizens are just another way
Wyoming is showing their commitment to
protecting our incredible wildlife. "
- Robert Gagliardi, WGFD

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/wildlife-in-wyoming/migration/wildlife-crossing https://wgfd.wyo.gov/wildlife-in-wyoming/migration/wildlife-crossing

September 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2021