MURIE AUDUBON PRESENTS:

In Wyoming, 15% of all reported vehicle collisions involve big game wildlife. Over 6,000 deer, pronghorn, elk, and moose are hit by vehicles and killed on our roads every year. These collisions are costing nearly $50 million annually for damages to vehicles, human injury expenses, and loss of wildlife. Serving as a partner foundation to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, The WYldlife Fund is uniquely positioned to have a profound positive impact. Specializing in grant agreements, the Fund ensures precise and efficient allocation of resources on the ground to advance wildlife projects across Wyoming. The WYldlife Fund has helped raise $377,028.78 to send to the I-25 Wildlife Crossing Project. These contributions have been made possible by numerous partners throughout Wyoming and the United States! This stretch of highway between Buffalo and Kaycee is the second deadliest stretch of roadway for mule deer in the state. This cost effective project will act as a model for other projects like it across the west, as existing agriculture underpasses are being utilized to provide safe passage for wildlife crossing the busy highway.

Approximately 18 miles of fencing has been installed to funnel wildlife to these existing agriculture underpasses. A camera study has proven these existing underpasses to be successful currently, as wildlife already navigate them and by installing fencing this success rate should skyrocket even higher and virtually eliminate wildlife being hit on this stretch of highway. Chris McBarnes, President of the WYldlife Fund, will be our guest speaker for our next Murie Audubon meeting to tell us more about the WYldlife Fund and to update us on existing projects and projects being planned to benefit wildlife across Wyoming.

Murie Audubon members and the public are invited to this free talk on October 10, 7 p.m., at the Izaak Walton Clubhouse, 4205 Fort Caspar Road.

Bruce Walgren