Teck Resources Limited announced last week a $2.5 million contribution to help build a new wildlife overpass in the East Kootenay.
The B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure overpass project located south of Radium Hot Springs will reduce vehicle strikes with bighorn sheep, making that stretch of Highway 93/95 safer for residents and other highway users while protecting the iconic bighorn sheep herd.
Conservation groups say that the Radium herd is one of the last viable herds of bighorn sheep in the area. Approximately 10 per cent of the herd is killed annually by collisions with vehicles. The population dropped from approximately 230 sheep in 2003 to 120 in 2019.
“This project is critical to maintaining wildlife habitat connectivity, while protecting people and bighorn sheep in the East Kootenay,” said Jonathan Price, CEO, Teck. “Teck’s $2.5 million contribution will support bighorn sheep populations across the region and furthers our goal of becoming Nature Positive by 2030.”
“It’s vital that we keep people safe and protect these magnificent animals,” said Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming. “With the help of our partners like Teck, this overpass will support safe passage for the bighorn sheep, protecting the herd that is so important to the environment and First Nations and the people of the East Kootenay. “
The overpass will cross the highway near Mile Hill, a location chosen following site inspections by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Forests, the Village of Radium Hot Springs and Parks Canada. The project includes approximately six kilometres of wildlife fencing and gates that will guide animals to the overpass and safely over the highway.
Project partners include Parks Canada, Teck, the Village of Radium Hot Springs, the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, the Ktunaxa Nation Council and the Shuswap Band. Construction on the project is anticipated to begin in the coming weeks.
Reports show there are about 5,400 wildlife-motor vehicle collisions per year in B.C., with many of these recorded collisions occurring with deer, elk, bear and moose. Deer are involved in about 85 per cent of wildlife collisions across the province.
The Ministry has over 600 kilometres of wildlife exclusion fencing across the province, more than any other transportation agency in North America. B.C. also has the most wildlife overpasses in Canada.
