wildlife collision annual report · 2020. 4. 28. · june 11, 2013 – cbc radio daybreak –...

April 2014

Wildlife Collision

Prevention Program

ANNUAL REPORT 2013/2014

www.wildlifecollisions.ca

Administered by the British Columbia Conservation Foundation

Photo: Gayle Hesse

Photo: Carson Newby

Photo: Giles Shearing

Photo: Colin Leake

Wildlife Collision Prevention Program Annual Report 2013-2014 1

Wildlife Collision Prevention Program

The Wildlife Collision Prevention Program was

formed in 2001 in response to the growing

number and severity of wildlife vehicle

collisions in British Columbia. The guiding

organization behind the Wildlife Collision

Prevention Program is the British Columbia

Conservation Foundation, which is a registered

not-for-profit organization that promotes and

assists in the conservation of the fish and

wildlife resources of British Columbia.

WCPP strives to reduce wildlife collisions

through research, collision mitigation activities,

and public awareness. We implement programs

enabling motorists to anticipate situations

where wildlife might be present on the road,

and educate them about ways to avoid colliding

with wildlife hazards.

Mission Statement

To save human lives and prevent injuries,

protect wildlife from unnecessary death and

injury, and reduce the economic losses to

society caused by wildlife vehicle collisions

Collisions between vehicles and wildlife are a

serious problem for species conservation and

management, public safety, animal welfare, and

the economy.

Past wildlife vehicle collision records

demonstrate, in a typical year in BC, it is

estimated that:

• 5 people are killed, and 430 people are

injured.

• 6,100 animals are recorded as killed,

and a further 18,300 wildlife deaths go

unrecorded as the animal leaves the

roadside area to die.

• ICBC expends $34 million dollars on

animal-related crash incidents.

• $700,000 is spent by BC Ministry of

Transportation and Infrastructure for

highway cleanup.

• $48 million is no longer available to

provincial revenue due to lost hunting

license revenue and lost value of

wildlife to resident and non-resident

hunters.

• Substantial costs are incurred for

policing, medical aid, WCB, EI, and lost

staff productivity.


Print Notices

Highway 16 Newspapers

WCPP continues to advertise in ten community

newspapers along Highway 16 from Vanderhoof

to Prince Rupert during high risk times of year.

These ads, comparing moose size to vehicle

size, emphasize the danger of moose collisions

to the motorist.

Kootenay Newspapers

WCPP expanded its advertising to include the

east and west Kootenays. About 55% of all

wildlife vehicle collisions in BC occur in the

southern interior. Newspapers in nine

communities carried the wildlife collision

avoidance message during October 2013. Fall is

the highest risk time of year for wildlife vehicle

collisions in the Kootenays.


Radio Notices

A series of radio advertisements has been

developed to provide wildlife collision

prevention information directly to motorists.

The ads provide species specific behavioural

information in high crash areas, and there are

different versions of the ads for deer, moose,

and bighorn sheep hot spot areas, plus general

wildlife collision awareness tips.

Moose – Central interior

These ads incorporated the community and

regionally specific data obtained from the

University of Northern BC research on wildlife

collisions. The ads aired in January in Hazelton,

Granisle, Burns Lake, Houston, Smithers, Fraser

Lake, Fort St. James, Vanderhoof, and Prince

George. Moose comprise 23% of wildlife

collisions in northern BC, and pose a significant

risk of human injury or death.

Deer - Kootenays

Collisions with deer comprise 82% of wildlife

collisions in this region. The ads aired in the

spring and fall in Trail, Castlegar, Creston, Grand

Forks, Revelstoke, Golden, Radium, Invermere,

Rock Creek, Christina Lake, Cranbrook, Fernie,

and Nelson.

Deer - Cariboo

Collisions with deer comprise 85% of wildlife

collisions in this region. The ads aired in the

spring and fall in Williams Lake, 100 Mile House,

and the surrounding area.

The take home message is

"Slow down and give yourself

and wildlife a brake!”

Radio ad coverage areas


Brochures

Brochures were distributed through Visitor Information Centres, on BC Ferries, at Parks Canada Tourist

Centres, through the BC Wildlife Federation clubs, and by our corporate sponsors.


Roadside Signs - Kiosks

Roadside kiosk signs are located throughout BC.

Junction of Highways 16 and 97 – Visitor

Information Centre

Highway 97 S – Australian and Woodpecker rest

areas

Highway 16 W - Cluculz Creek rest area

Highway 16 E - Slim Creek and Terry Fox rest

areas

Highway 97 N - Pine Le Moray viewpoint

Highway 97 S - near Clinton, 6 Mile Lake pullout

Village of Clinton - rest area

Highway 5 - Wire Cache rest area

Highway 19 - Buckley Bay and Hoomak Lake

(Vancouver Island) - rest areas

City of Fort St. John - rest area

Alaska Highway - Steamboat Mountain Summit

Km 535

Alaska Highway - Muncho Lake - Km 702

Alaska Highway - Allen’s Lookout - Km 880

Alaska Highway - BC/Yukon border - Km 964

Westside Road, near Kelowna - Bear Creek and

Fintry Provincial Parks

Highway 16 at Cluculz Creek

Highway 16 and Highway 97 junction

Alaska Highway Km 535 at Steamboat


Roadside Signs - Billboards

Five billboard styles have been used in BC.

Moose - Northeast BC

The billboard is located west of Dawson Creek,

on Highway 97.

Deer - West Kootenays

The billboard is located on Highway 3, east of

Grand Forks.

Moose - Alaska Highway

Two billboards are permanently located on the

Alaska Highway, near Km 135.

Bison - Alaska Highway

Two billboards are permanently located on the

Alaska Highway, near Iron Creek.

Bighorn Sheep - East Kootenays

The billboard was located on Highway 93/95,

near Invermere.


Website

www.wildlifecollisions.ca

www.bisonandroads.com

Numerous inquiries and contacts are made

through the website feedback button. Inquiries

are received from: universities and academics;

transportation and environmental consultants;

driving schools; trucking companies; general

inquiries; occupational health and safety

committees; non-profit organizations working

in related fields of study; the media;

governments in other jurisdictions; and

organizations in related fields of business.

Email inquiries include: comments on the need

for eye-catching wildlife warning signage; media

outlets requesting information and/or fact

verification for wildlife vehicle collision stories;

driving instructors wanting information to

supplement their curricula; transportation

managers requesting information; community

members wanting to initiate projects in their

local areas; and biologists requesting wildlife

collision data to use in population inventories.

There has been a steady increase in the

numbers of unique visitors to the website.

Year # Unique Visits per Month

2007 541

2008 660

2009 896

2010 1204

2011 1009

2012 1260

2013 1257

2014 1478

These two websites act as a clearinghouse for

all aspects of wildlife collision prevention.

Information for Professionals

Links to current research projects and

agencies involved in wildlife collision

mitigation

Canadian and international resources for

researchers

Current research into wildlife collision

mitigation

Links to on-line training resources

Upcoming conferences and workshops

Information for Drivers

• How drivers can reduce the risk of a

collision?

• What are some common myths about

wildlife collisions?

• When do collisions occur?

• What are common locations?

• What do drivers need to know about

wildlife?

• How can drivers reduce the chances of

having a collision?

• What should drivers do if they see wildlife

on the road?

• What if a collision is inevitable?

• What should drivers do if they do hit an

animal?

• What are the highest risk times of day?

• What about urban wildlife?

http://www.wildlifecollisions.ca/

http://www.bisonandroads.com/


Media Coverage

Print Media

November 1, 2013 - Bulkley Browser

– general wildlife collision awareness

Dec 24, 2013 – CBC on-line news

– moose collision fatality comments

January 2014 -Alaska Highway News

– deer on highways

January 6 and 8, 2014 – Opinion 250

– wildlife hazards on the highways

January 8, 2014 – Omineca Express

– wildlife signage needed

January 15, 2014 – Omineca Express

– peak time for wildlife collisions

Radio Interviews

June 11, 2013 – CBC radio Daybreak

– general wildlife awareness

Dec 23, 2013 – CBC radio news interview

northern BC and provincial coverage

– moose vehicle collision fatality near

Burns Lake

Jan 27, 2014 – 94X radio

– wildlife warning signs near Vanderhoof

Vancouver Sun -- June 10, 2013

The Province -- September 15, 2013


Northern BC Wildlife Collision Working Group

The Wildlife Collision Working Group has a five

point plan to address wildlife collisions in

northern BC:

1. identify high risk times of day, months of

year, and hotspot locations in northern BC

2. prioritize these hotspots for site visits

3. conduct field inspections of collision hot

spot areas

4. recommend, implement, and assess

mitigation methods

5. carry out public awareness projects

The Ministry of Transportation and

Infrastructure and UNBC entered into a multi-

year contract to monitor and assess moose

activity at roadside mineral licks. WCPP is a

technical advisor to this contract.

Five strategies (rocks, fencing, logs, cedar bark

mulch, and human hair/dog fur) have been used

to deactivate mineral licks.

Both deactivated licks and untreated control

licks have been monitored with motion-

activated trail cameras.

The preliminary results from the deactivation

treatments have been promising, showing that

moose and deer visits to deactivated licks have

been greatly reduced.

Wildlife warning signage continues to be

updated and locations refined throughout

MoT’s Northern Region.

A new research partnership with Shell Canada

Shell Canada Limited has provided a monetary

contribution to cover research costs associated

with two mineral licks located on Highway 29,

north of Chetwynd.

Motion-activated camera monitoring of the

licks began in November 2013. Soil samples will

be collected in June 2014 for lab analysis.

The Wildlife Collision Working Group had

previously been unable to undertake mineral

lick work in the Peace Region because of

distance, travel, and logistical constraints. This

contribution allows WCPP the opportunity to

carry out projects in this geographic area and

will provide an important contribution to our

ongoing research.

Moose at roadside mineral lick, captured by

motion-activated camera


Wildlife Vehicle Collision Figures – One Measure of Success

The most important way to measure the success of our program is to be able to demonstrate that the

number of wildlife vehicle collisions is declining.

Crash data (2003 – 2012) from ICBC’s Business Intelligence Warehouse

Human injury data (2003 – 2012) from ICBC’s Business Intelligence Warehouse

Factors that influence the numbers of wildlife vehicle collisions are complex and inter-related. There

may be many factors that contribute to a reduction in collisions, but we believe that our public

awareness campaign is one of those factors.


Financials

Financial Highlights

April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014

Revenues

Gaming $39,443

BCCF $2,500

Public Donations $2,153

Fee for Service $330

Fundraising $58,266

Total $102,693

Carry over to 14/15* $51,412

Total Revenues $51,280

Expenses

Public Awareness $32,699

General Operations $1,450

Research $5,074

Fundraising $3,966

Extension $1,962

Fees $5,502

GST $627

Total Expenses $51,280

*The carry-over amount reflects the fact that funds are

received throughout the year, and two Gaming grants

were received within a 12 month period.

Revenues

Where do our funds come from?

Expenses

What do we spend our funds on?


Partnership Support

WCPP partners and contributors are essential to achieving its goals. Partnerships of all kinds continue to

be pursued with public and private agencies as well as government and not-for-profit organizations.

WCPP, together with its partners and advisors, are working successfully to achieve our goals.

The Wildlife Collision Prevention Program extends warm thanks to all its current and past partners.

Platinum Sponsors

Shell Canada Limited

The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC)

Bronze Sponsors

RoadHealth Regional Task Force

BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program

In-Kind Contributors: Goods and Services

BC Ministry of Environment, BC Parks, Okanagan, Peace, and Omineca Regions

University of Northern British Columbia

International Conference on Ecology and Transportation

Columbia Mountain Institute of Applied Ecology

In-Kind Contributors: Technical Advice and Support

ICBC

Parks Canada

BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

BC Forest Safety Council, Forestry TruckSafe Program

BC Ministry of Environment, Okanagan Region, Fish & Wildlife Section

Partners in Community Projects

Public Works and Government Services Canada

Northern Rockies Regional Municipality

Sheila Carroll

Mountain Caribou Project

Bighorn In Our Backyard

Yellowhead Road & Bridge (Vanderhoof) and (North Peace) Ltd.

Caribou Road Services (South) Ltd.

HMC Services Ltd.

Many other individuals concerned for wildlife and human safety have contributed generously.

Wildlife Collision Prevention Program British Columbia Conservation Foundation

Suite 200 1383 McGill Road Kamloops, B.C V2C 6K7

Phone: 250.828.2551 Fax: 250.828.2597

Web: www.wildlifecollisions.ca www.bisonandroads.com

Email: [email protected]

Head Office British Columbia Conservation Foundation

206 17564 56A Ave. Surrey BC V3S 1G3

Phone: 604.576.1432 Fax: 604.576.1482

Web: www.bccf.com Email: [email protected]

Registered Charity # 123042822 BC0001

Photo: Gayle Hesse

http://www.wildlifecollisions.ca/

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.bccf.com/

mailto:[email protected]

wildlife collision annual report · 2020. 4. 28. · june 11, 2013 – cbc radio daybreak –...

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