Bridges and Tunnels Help Pronghorn Survive

credit: Jeff Burrell/WCS

New crossings of US Highway 191 in Trapper's Point, Wyoming are helping pronghorn antelope from becoming road kill. The structures are the result of years of cooperation between conservationists, government officials and highway users. The Wildlife Conservation Society helped in locating the crossings based on data about pronghorns' preferred migration routes between the Upper Green River basin where they winter and Grand Teton National Park. This 93 mile corridor known as the "Path of the Pronghorn" is the only federally designated migration corridor in the nation. Critically endangered wildlife in other parts of the country could benefit from erection of similar structures, particularly in South Florida where the panther is hanging on by a thread. One state highway in Florida has claimed the seven panthers in eight years, increasing the likelyhood the feline's will go extinct in the wild. {"Florida panther"}

Over the course of five years WCS scientists used GPS tracking collars to collect the antelope migration data. Trapper's Point was a historic bottleneck causing thousands of pronghorn to cross traffic on Hwy 191, thus creating a dangerous situation for drivers and animals. There are now eight crossings along a thirteen mile stretch of highway in addition to an eight foot high barrier fence to channel animals safely over and under the highway. Two overpasses and 6 underpasses will accommodate not only pronghorn but moose, mule deer, elk, and perhaps one day, bison. The overpasses were located and designed specifically for the antelope.  They apparently approve the structures since they are using them to get to the other side of the road safely [photo].  In the 19th century there were perhaps 35 million pronghorn, now only 700,000 remain and half of those live in Wyoming.  The new crossings will ensure the 6,000 year old migration survives as part of this nation's wild heritage.