‘It is important for us’: Why Utah developed an app to report roadkill

Estimated learn time: 3-4 minutes

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah wildlife officers have obtained practically 5,000 studies of deer collisions within the state this yr alone, in addition to one other 166 reported collisions with elk.

Nevertheless, these numbers are possible low. Utah Division of Wildlife Sources officers consider each figures are probably twice as excessive as a result of most collisions aren’t reported. That would quickly change.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Sources and Utah Division of Transportation launched a brand new app Thursday that enables Utahns to report roadkill that they might stumble over on the roads. The Utah Roadkill Reporter app affords greater than merely reporting roadkill that must be cleaned up, although. It will possibly present helpful knowledge relating to human-wildlife interplay because the state grows, says Blair Stringham, the migration initiative coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Sources.

These interactions are sometimes detrimental as a result of they may end up in property injury or human damage on high of the hurt to wildlife. The estimated price of those collisions varies however rises as much as $138 million yearly, based on the Utah Legislature.

“It will be significant for us to know what number of wildlife-vehicle collisions happen in Utah. This new app will permit us to know precisely when and the place collisions happen, which can assist us determine sizzling spot areas on Utah highways,” Stringham mentioned in a information launch.

Whereas deer and elk account for many reported collisions, the 2 companies word that smaller species like coyotes, rabbits, raccoons and squirrels are additionally steadily hit by autos. There are additionally collisions involving bigger animals like bighorn sheep, black bears, cougars and moose yearly, although that is a bit rarer. There have been practically two dozen reported collisions with moose, based on wildlife officers.

Each UDOT and state wildlife officers have labored up to now on tasks that attempt to eradicate most of these collisions. One of many more moderen examples is a bridge over I-80 in Parleys Canyon that opened in 2018, serving as a wildlife overpass. Utilizing a path digicam, UDOT determined that there were at least 700 animal crossings just last year alone, together with greater than 400 deer that in any other case could have tried to cross the freeway.

Nonetheless, the companies did not actually have concrete knowledge on what number of collisions are on the market due to the numerous unreported collisions. That sparked the thought for the app, which the 2 companies started engaged on two years in the past.

As soon as the app is downloaded, individuals can submit studies relating to the places of animal carcasses on Utah’s roads and highways. The app makes use of GPS monitoring to assist pinpoint the placement of the useless animal, thus figuring out areas the place collisions are taking place essentially the most. State biologists are then in a position to choose up the reported carcass, the place they will determine the species, gender, age and different details about the animal.

Stringham explains that having all of this info makes it attainable to provide you with options that eradicate collisions from taking place in these areas. This might imply new fencing, underpasses, wildlife overpasses or anything that may assist keep away from wildlife collisions. They’re tasks that may probably save human and wildlife lives, and even assist Utahns keep away from the prices of property injury.

“The brand new app will make it simpler for the general public to make use of and can give us extra and higher info to information future mitigation efforts,” provides Matt Howard, a pure useful resource supervisor for UDOT.

The app is offered to obtain without cost from the Google Play retailer or Apple’s App Retailer.

Associated tales

Most up-to-date Open air tales