On a dark Saturday evening in late August, the Chaleur Lightning hockey squad had just finished an exhibition match against the Miramichi Timberwolves and boarded their team bus to return to Bathurst. Assistant coach Alex Ouellet recalled the moment when the bus driver suddenly gasped. “We had barely been on the road for five minutes,” Ouellet recounted. “I glanced up and saw a figure ahead of us, followed by a loud bang.” The team bus had collided with a moose on the highway, but fortunately, everyone on board, except the driver who sustained minor scratches, emerged unharmed.
The encounter with the moose left a lasting impression on Ouellet and the team, similar to many other New Brunswickers who have faced such incidents. Ouellet expressed that he would always remember the event, especially when traveling on those roads, particularly in the evenings and at night.
Coincidentally, the province announced the addition of two new wildlife crossings on the same highway stretch where the incident occurred, aiming to mitigate such collisions. These crossings, including wildlife tunnels, are part of the province’s efforts to prevent large animals like moose from straying onto roadways. Transportation Minister Chuck Chiasson stated that the decision on where to implement these measures is based on collision data provided by law enforcement to identify high-risk areas.
Presently, both sides of 331 kilometers of New Brunswick highways are protected by wildlife fencing. However, the province acknowledges that fencing alone is not sufficient to prevent animal crossings. To address this, there are 82 wildlife crossings in various parts of New Brunswick, including two recent installations on Route 8 between Miramichi and Bathurst. These tunnels, over four meters tall and wide, are designed to be easily accessible and used by various wildlife species.
Research conducted on the effectiveness of wildlife tunnels in the past has shown positive results, with animals quickly adapting to their use. Wildlife ecologist Graham Forbes emphasized the importance of making the tunnels intuitive for animals to encourage their safe passage.
Apart from large mammals like moose, the tunnels have also been utilized by various other species, showcasing their versatility in promoting safe wildlife crossings. Despite the existence of these mitigation measures, the Department of Transportation noted that the number of collisions remains high, with a focus on implementing further measures to enhance road safety.
Looking ahead, Ouellet expressed hope for additional fencing in the area to reduce the risk of future incidents, recognizing the challenges of completely preventing collisions but emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to ensure road safety.
