Map from the AWL GIS lab

American Wildlands’ Safe Passage program is ultimately focused on two objectives: providing safe crossings for wildlife and providing information to drivers to help them become more aware of the potential of hitting wildlife. In 2006, we had the opportunity to partner with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and assist them with a driver information project on U.S. Highway 200, in NW Montana.

Since 1985, 281 bighorn sheep have been killed by vehicles on a stretch of Highway 200. Vehicles have hit the majority of these sheep in two separate one-mile sections of road, where the canyon topography funnels the sheep to the highway. The size of the Thompson Falls bighorn sheep herd is estimated to be 225 sheep, and wildlife officials say the integrity of the herd will suffer if sheep continue to die at such a high rate.

Most of the sheep are hit between the months of January and April, when they migrate to their low-elevation winter-range. Last year, 25 sheep were hit during these months, which prompted MDT to contact American Wildlands because of our experience and commitment to Safe Passages work. American Wildlands provided financial support to help purchase four Variable Messaging Signs to warn drivers about the presence of bighorn sheep. In addition to MDT, we worked with the Federal Highway Administration, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, and the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep.

New Variable Message Signs will warn drivers of Bighorn sheep, a common sight along portions of highway 200 in Montana. Photo courtesy of Kerry Foresman.

Variable Message Signs (VMS) are electronic message boards that can be changed as needed. Two examples of common VMS messages are “Left Lane Closed” and, in northern climates, “Icy Roads Ahead.” The four dynamic signs that AWL helped purchase will be located at the two major hotspots where 62 percent of all sheep have been killed. The signs will be up from January to April, the time of the year when sheep are most often found near the highway. The signs will alternate between two messages every few seconds: “CAUTION BIGHORN SHEEP ON/NEAR ROADWAY” and “JAN – APR 06, 25 SHEEP KILLED.”

The Highway 200 partnership is a good example of how road-side information helps drivers be more aware of wildlife on the roads. We believe innovative techniques like this will continue to make highways safer for wildlife and people.