Some Animals Experience More Convenience Than Others
By Mitch Berg
They’re building bridges over their roads for the reindeer to cross safely.
In fact, let’s go one step farther. Let’s dig tunnels under the roads for raccoons to cross safely. And paint different colored stripes for bicycles to cross safely. And lower speed limits so jaywalkers can cross safely.
You know what? Why are we messing around with half-measures? If we’re going to do it, just do it right.
Ban vehicles and tear up the roads completely, so everyone and everything can cross safely. Because what’s more important – moving people and goods efficiently, or signaling our virtue?
Do it . . . for the reindeer.
Joe Doakes
To be fair, not only are “we” doing it…
…but the “we” in this case is the Utah Highway and Natural Resources departments – arguably less likely to be swayed by bizarre priorities than Texas.
Say what you will – it’s a fascinating watch.
January 26th, 2021 at 7:06 am
If they really cared about the animals of the forest, they would have astroturfed the bridge instead of using those sharp rocks. What were they thinking?
January 26th, 2021 at 8:40 am
These animal passages are common in parts of Europe, and are beneficial to humans as well. A few years ago my family spent several days driving on the autostrada in Italy and Austria. I think it was the second or third day when I asked, “Has anyone seen a single animal carcass of any size on the shoulder of the road?” None of us could recall one. That’s good for the animals, but also good for the drivers who have less chance of hitting a deer at autostrada speeds!
January 26th, 2021 at 9:20 am
You know, NW, it could be that there just weren’t (aren’t) all that many animals to hit. I’ve lived there and I don’t recall very many if any animal carcasses on the roads there.
January 26th, 2021 at 9:24 am
I used to laugh at the Deer Crossing lady. But she was right!
January 26th, 2021 at 9:25 am
jdm – that could be part of it. When we stopped at one of the Moto restaurants next to the highway I mentioned the lack of carcasses to a server there. His response was, “Where do you think we get the meat we serve here?” He then told me about the “passages” designed for wildlife.
January 26th, 2021 at 9:48 am
The railings on the animal overpass are a nice touch.
January 26th, 2021 at 10:02 am
I’m not quite sure how we persuade deer and reindeer to use the crossings, but I do know that in places where you’ve got a big migration of these animals, the amount of roadkill just gets thick. I used to hunt in and west of Routt National Forest in Colorado, and highway 13 north of Craig was just littered with the carcasses.
January 26th, 2021 at 10:09 am
NW, that’s funny. I don’t know so much about Austria or Italy. My experience was more northern Europe where there just might be fewer animals because there’s so many people.
January 26th, 2021 at 10:48 am
I’m not quite sure how we persuade deer and reindeer to use the crossings
I think… kick memory… that this was the essence of the Deer Crossing lady’s complaint. Something about she thought the signs told the deer where to cross and that they should be located in lower traffic areas.
January 26th, 2021 at 11:10 am
The deer crossing lady – I loved that bit.
Was it a bit?
She couldn’t have been serious?
Naaaaah.
January 26th, 2021 at 1:43 pm
The railings on the animal overpass are a nice touch.
They meet OSHA regulations.
January 26th, 2021 at 3:54 pm
While driving on the Dalton Highway north of Alaska’s Brooks Range (I recommend everyone do it at least once), there were 30,000 reindeer (read Cariboo) on one side of the road, who decided to cross.
What a sight!
Though I would have preferred they use a pedestrian bridge.
January 26th, 2021 at 4:51 pm
You don’t have to go far to find a one of these things. In 2014 the MN DNR and Washington County put in a Turtle Tunnel under Country Rd 4 by Big Marine Lake (near Scandia) to save the Blanding’s turtles. In 2015 after reviewing a full year of camera footage – how many Blanding’s do you think had used the tunnel………..wait for it………zero!
January 26th, 2021 at 4:56 pm
bugjar, did they put up a sign for the turtles to know that the tunnel was for them?
January 27th, 2021 at 12:51 am
I haven’t seen a sign but I know there have been visitors from all over the world stopping by to check it out. I think the initial cost was around $50,000.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:51 am
I haven’t seen a sign but I know there have been visitors from all over the world stopping by to check it out. I think the initial cost was around $50,000.