Utah deer crossings 'successful' but not perfect

A new set of elaborate wildlife crossings under Highway 89 east of Kanab in southern Utah has reduced vehicle collisions with deer.

John Hollenhorst, Deseret News

KANAB After a round-trip migration by several thousand deer, a new set of elaborate wildlife crossings under a highway in southern Utah is being labeled a qualified success.

But the experiment has not been without problems both animal and human in nature.

Last year, a partnership of government agencies built 12 miles of fencing and large wildlife underpasses to reduce vehicle collisions with deer on U.S. 89 east of Kanab in Kane County.

"I think the general perception is that it has been successful," said Kevin Kitchen, a spokesman for the Utah Department of Transportation.

Vehicle collisions with deer have been reduced substantially since deer began migrating under the highway instead of across it, Kitchen said.

The system of fences and underpasses is one of several designs being tried across the country as states try to reduce the costs of such accidents in dollars and deaths of deer and humans.

Surveillance images show that deer are sometimes skittish as they approach the underpasses, but most will eventually walk under the highway.

"The behavior of the animals is one of the things we really have to look at as we take a look at the design of these structures and fences and the different types of crossings," Kitchen said.

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Utah deer crossings 'successful' but not perfect