Identification of Wildlife-Vehicle Conflict Hotspots in Utah

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) work together to help reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve the permeability of roads for wildlife. These efforts work largely at the UDOT and UDWR regional levels, yet there is a need to identify locations for top state-wide efforts. This research project began to address top locations for wildlife-vehicle conflict, based on areas of the greatest number of reported wildlife-related crashes, all animal crashes, and domestic animal crashes, carcasses reported along roads, and available data on wildlife movements and habitats near and across Utah roads. From 2008 - 2017, each year there were on average 3,110 crashes reported with animals, 2,756 of these with wild animals, at a societal cost of over $138 million annually. The researchers conducted statewide Geographic Information Systems (GIS) hotspot analyses with Getis-Ord Gi*, of all animals, wildlife, and domestic animal-related crash data, and carcass data to delineate and rank top wildlife-vehicle conflict hotspot areas across Utah and within UDOT Regions. The crash modeling identified the top 25 WVC hotspots for past crashes based on crashes/mile/year with: all animals, wildlife, and domestic animals on highways and local roads. The top five locations for animal and wildlife-vehicle crashes on highways were: 1. US 191 North and South of Monticello; 2. US 89/North State St. in Lindon; 3. US 40 from Heber north to Jordanelle Reservoir; 4. US 189 Deer Creek State Park; and 5. SR 224 Kimball Junction-SR 248 Park City. Recommendations were included in the report detailing past and potential future wildlife mitigation solutions for these five and 20 other top hotspots.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Edition: Final Report
  • Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 177p

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01773812
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: UT-19.27
  • Contract Numbers: 19-8199; 5537915D
  • Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: Jun 7 2021 9:44AM