By Spencer Hall, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, RMG
Data from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure shows deer in the Robson Valley collide with traffic more than other animals in the region.
On the 347 km stretch of Highway 16 from Prince George to the Alberta border, a total of 275 deer have been hit by motorists over the past five years. According to Ministry data, 2017 had the highest number of deer collisions from Prince George to Alberta along Highway 16 in the last five years, with 62, followed by 57 in 2018 and 50 in 2022. As of November 15th, a total of 38 deer have collided with vehicles in this area. The year with the lowest collisions in the area was 2020 with seven. The Ministry said this could be because traffic volumes were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which also could have influenced local wildlife collisions.
highest number of deer collisions from Prince George to Alberta along
Hwy 16 in the last five years. /RMG INFOGRAPHIC, BC GOV DATA
While this could be the case on Highway 16 between Prince George and Alberta, the pandemic doesn’t seem to have had as much of an impact on collisions on Highway 5 from Tete Jaune to Clearwater, with the highest number of deer collisions in 2020 at 76, the second highest in 2019 at 52, spiking downwards to 17 in 2021, and rising to 30 in 2022. As of November 16th, 20 deer collisions have occurred along the 215 km portion of Highway 5.
When asked if increased traffic in the area from the Trans Mountain Expansion Pipeline project could have contributed to the sudden jump in collisions, the Ministry said the data was “inconclusive.”
The Ministry said both highways pass through vast and diverse wildlife habitats, with travellers mostly likely to encounter deer, moose, and black bears.
“Terrain and landscape features determine which species travellers are more likely to see. For example, deer are more often along tree lines bordering farms and grassy areas, while moose are often near swampy areas,” the Ministry said.
Moose are the second most common animals to collide with traffic on both Highway 16 and 5, with 186 and 84 collisions respectively in the last five years. 2017 was the year with the most moose collisions on Highway 16 between Prince George and the Alberta border, with 55.
In 2020, 40 moose were hit by motorists between Tete Jaune and Clearwater.
and Clearwater. /RMG INFOGRAPHIC, BC GOV DATA
Since 2017, 74 bears have been hit over the past five years within the 215 km portion of Highway 5 and 68 between Prince George and Alberta.
In areas the Ministry has identified higher levels of wildlife collisions, it installs wildlife warning signs. On Highway 16 between Prince George and Alberta, there are 16 deer signs located between kilometre 192 and 338 and 16 Moose signs between kilometre 10 and 173, with the majority located between kilometre 10 and 56. There are also four wildlife corridor signs at kilometre 20, 205, 209 and 269.
Between Tete Jaune and Clearwater. There are 16 deer signs between kilometre 2 and 207, with eight between kilometre 2 and 28. There are also six moose signs between kilometre 37 and 72.
The Ministry said travellers on Highway 16 are most likely to encounter wildlife near Willow River Recreation Site, Booth Creek, and Mountain View Chalets, while those driving along Highway 5 are likely to see wildlife in the seven-kilometre stretch north of Gosnell Bridge, from, Avola to Finn Creek Provincial Park and from Tete Jaune Cache to Little Fort.
The Ministry recommends drivers pay extra attention during dawn and dusk to avoid wildlife collisions, as this is when wildlife are most active along highways.
