Wildlife deaths from vehicle collisions are on the rise in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. That’s according to records obtained by the group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.
The group’s executive director, Jeff Ruch, says one of the reasons , at least in Yellowstone, could be road improvements.
“Yellowstone designs its road projects for basically commuting into the park,” says Ruch. “They’ve invested a lot of money in recent years into making roads wider and straighter.”
Ruch says that enables people to drive faster , which can lead to more vehicle-wildlife collisions.
He notes that Grand Teton National Park has taken various measures to get drivers to slow down, including reducing nighttime speed limits. He says all parks should consider similar measures.