UDOT reveals how many animals used I-80 Parley's Canyon crossing in 2021
By: Jack Helean (KSTU)
Hey Y'all! Check this out!
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
PARLEY'S CANYON, Utah — The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) on Monday revealed how many animals used the I-80 crossing in 2021.
UDOT's motto is "keeping Utah moving," and apparently that includes the furry friends who call Utah home, as well as humans.
The overpass helps wildlife get to the other side of Parley's Canyon without crossing the interstate.
UDOT said confirmed crossings in 2021 included:
- 706 animal crossings
- 23 species including 6 bird species
- 414 mule deer crossings
- 54 coyote crossings
- 27 porcupine crossings
- 8 black bear crossings
- 10 moose crossings
Video provided by UDOT showed many of the different species of crossing the overpass in 2021.
UDOT monitors the animal activity with several cameras set up along the overpass.
The crossing opened in December 2018. UDOT says it spans six lanes of interstate and was constructed to improve safety on I-80 by reducing wildlife and vehicle collisions.
While it may be tempting to visit the bridge in an attempt to spot some critters, UDWR says to keep off the overpass and not disturb the animals.
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I think California was building one, too. What a great way to save wildlife and cars!
We are building one for mountain lions to cross. Some have been hit and killed by cars as they try to run across a freeway.
It will be for mountain lions and any other species that wants to use it, except humans, of course. It is about 15 miles from my house. This is a link describing it:
We had 2 mountain lion sightings in our neighborhood this week within 1/2 mile of my house captured on Ring cameras and shared, although it may be the same mountain lion in both videos. Last year a neighboring property only about 300-400 feet from mine had a very large mountain lion one night captured on video. Another neighbor had a bobcat this week. I haven't seen a bobcat on our property for several years. We do have coyotes fairly often. I had an encounter with a very beautiful coyote a few months ago when I was outside and it came down from one of the slopes on my property. That was pretty interesting.
My favorite is the indecisive bear and the moose starting across the overpass and the deer politely getting out its way
You don't want to hit a moose.
Moose have long legs that insure their huge bodies will crash through your windshield.
And, unfortunately, most of them don't have insurance.
Oh my! That poor moose
Morning... unfortunately kangaroos usually end up in a similar fate here...
Either write cars off or go straight through the windscreen...
A number of drivers have been killed...
Wish we could build overpasses here but our animals will not use them.
We have tried tunnels under roads but with very limited success unfortunately..
Maybe they need signs to point them in the right direction...we have deer crossing signs....