Wildlife overpass to keep drivers, bighorn sheep safe
A new wildlife overpass south of Radium Hot Springs will reduce vehicle collisions with bighorn sheep, making that stretch of Highway 93/95 safer for residents and other highway users while protecting the iconic local bighorn sheep herd.
The Radium Wildlife Overpass will cross the highway near Mile Hill, a location chosen through collaboration between the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Forests, the Village of Radium Hot Springs and Parks Canada. The project includes approximately six kilometres of wildlife fencing and gates that will guide animals to the overpass and safely over the highway. The project will be going to tender in the coming weeks.
“It’s vital that we keep people safe and protect these animals that are so critical to regional biodiversity,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “With the help of our partners, this new overpass will support safe passage for the bighorn sheep, protecting this herd that is so important to local First Nations and all the people of the East Kootenays.”
Project partners include Parks Canada, the Village of Radium Hot Springs, Teck Resources Ltd., the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, the Ktunaxa Nation Council and the Shuswap Band. Construction on the project is anticipated to begin in the coming weeks.
Other recent efforts to reduce collisions include prominent wildlife signage, flashing LED warning signs indicating the presence of sheep, and a message sign highlighting changes in sheep activity. The speed limit was also temporarily reduced in the Mile Hill area to 70 kilometres per hour. Ministry staff have worked with the Shuswap First Nation and Ktunaxa Nation to provide monitoring of the herd.
Quotes:
Steven Guilbeault, federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada –
“We get meaningful, on-the-ground results through effective collaboration between different levels of government, Indigenous partners, experts and stakeholders. Not only will this wildlife overpass support the security of road users, it will also play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation by allowing wildlife to flow freely across large landscapes. Real actions like the building of this overpass will help maintain and restore ecological connectivity across Canada, for the benefit of diverse species and all Canadians.”
Mike Gray, mayor, Radium Hot Springs –
“Bighorn sheep are iconic to the Village of Radium Hot Springs, and it is exciting to see the wildlife overpass built. When it is completed, the overpass will protect sheep, other wildlife, as well as motorists on Highway 93/95 – the main highway through the Columbia Valley and a significant wildlife corridor between the Rocky Mountains and the Columbia Wetlands.”
Jonathan Price, CEO, Teck Resources Ltd. –
“This project is critical to maintaining wildlife habitat connectivity, while protecting people and wildlife in the East Kootenays. Teck’s $2.5-million contribution will support bighorn sheep populations across the region and aligns with our goal of becoming nature positive by 2030.”
Quick Facts:
- Conservation groups say that the Radium herd is one of the last viable herds of bighorn sheep in the area.
- Approximately 10% of the herd is killed annually by collisions with vehicles.
- The population dropped from approximately 230 sheep in 2003 to 120 in 2019.
- Reports show there are about 5,400 wildlife-motor vehicle collisions per year in B.C., with many of these recorded collisions occurring with deer, elk, bear and moose.
- Deer are involved in about 85% of wildlife collisions across the province.
- There are more than 600 kilometres of ministry-built wildlife exclusion fencing throughout B.C., more than any other transportation agency in North America.
- B.C. also has the most wildlife overpasses in Canada.