Dissatisfied with the number of wildlife crossings along the Sea to Sky Highway, a local conservationist has begun a research and outreach initiative with the goal of cutting down on collisions between vehicles and wildlife.
Over two weeks in June, John Buchanan installed two surveillance cameras with motion sensors, one on either side of the highway near the Adventure Centre and Howe Sound Secondary, to determine the level of wildlife traffic needing safe crossing. He recorded three bears, two deer and a coyote near the Adventure Centre and similar numbers on the other side, before sending the photos to Premier Gordon Campbell's office.
Buchanan also developed the website www.99roadkill.ca to allow for shared stories of wildlife encounters while driving along the corridor.
Buchanan said he is shocked the Ministry of Transportation (MOT) hasn't done more to offset the newly constructed medians and increased traffic brought on by highway improvements. Things like installing substantial crossings and continuous wildlife fencing would help, he said.
"What we're going to see is more head-on collisions with wildlife and loss of human life," said Buchanan. "I'd hate to see some high profile deaths having to get action."
According to MOT, the new highway, which began construction in 2003, will increase traffic by 62 per cent between Horseshoe Bay and Squamish and by 56 per cent between Squamish and Whistler by the year 2025. However, MOT data provided by spokesperson David Crebo shows there are less wildlife-related accidents along Highway 99 than other provincial highways.
Between 1998 and 2007, recorded accidents involving bears and deer per kilometre per year were .053 on Highway 99 versus .231 throughout the rest of the province.
Meanwhile, the Wildlife Accident Reporting System (WARS) database was used to assess the need for mitigation measures. The statistics, which cover the period between 1992 and 2002 before highway construction began, include only wildlife that die on the highway.
But an estimated 75 per cent of wildlife involved in highway accidents die away from the road, according to the report. Taking this factor into account, 204 deer (the species with the largest mortality rate) were killed in vehicle collisions between Horseshoe Bay and Whistler's Function Junction over 10 years. There was no Highway 99 wildlife accident data available past 2007.
The environmental assessment concludes that mitigation efforts such as wildlife fencing are unnecessary, said Crebo.
"With the new highway that will continue to be monitored and tracked, and if there's some change, then the ministry will respond accordingly," he said. "But as the report says, the data shows that kind of fencing is not warranted."
MOT did install 18 culverts, designed specifically for large wildlife passage, ranging from one to three metres in diameter from Horseshow Bay to Whistler. The surrounding terrain is specially contoured and covered in vegetation as to encourage mammals toward the openings, said Crebo.
Buchanan said he's not convinced the culverts are enough, especially after looking over gruesome photos and fielding local residents' emails detailing collisions. He said he'll continue to lobby the government until he sees the results he wants.
"I suspect this is going to be a long-term project," said Buchanan. "I don't think I will probably see any results for some years but I'm willing to stay the course until we start getting something in place."
