Dear Governor Schweitzer and Director Lynch:
On behalf of Buffalo Field Campaign’s Board of
Directors, campaign staff, volunteers, and supporters,
we request your immediate attention to a public and
wildlife safety issue on U.S. Highway 191 near West
Yellowstone, Montana.
Bison spring migration is currently underway with bison
moving from Yellowstone National Park’s western
boundary to their spring calving grounds on surrounding
Gallatin National Forest lands. In order to access this
critical habitat, bison must cross the obstacle of U.S.
Highway 191, frequently traveled by locals, commercial
vehicles, tourists, and through-travelers. The ten-mile
stretch of Hwy. 191 from the Fir Ridge Cemetery south
to the town of West Yellowstone has proved to be a dangerous
stretch of road, claiming the lives of more than 58
wild bison since spring of 2005. These bison highway
mortalities not only threaten the viability of America’s
last wild bison population, which numbers fewer than
3,000 animals, but the lives of motorists and property
damage are also at stake.
Since Saturday, April
11, at least 15 bison have been killed due to collisions
with motor vehicles on Highway 191.
These collisions have occurred during the dark hours,
when bison are nearly impossible to see due to their
dark coats and non-reflective eyes. Bison not only need
to cross the highway to access spring habitat, but they
also graze the grasses along the highway which are the
first to appear during spring melting.
For years Buffalo Field Campaign has made every effort
to warn motorists of bison on the highway. Our presence
on the roads has been extremely instrumental in preventing
bison/human collisions, especially during daylight and
twilight hours. The dark hours, however, present increased
hazards that BFC is ill-equipped to handle. While we
are anxious to help save bison lives, it is the responsibility
of the State to reduce bison/motor vehicle collisions
by providing adequate warning, improved and increased
signage, and ensuring enforcement of set speed limits.
There are minimal warning signs in place between the
Fir Ridge Cemetery and the town of West Yellowstone,
and these have proven to be inadequate. A few years
ago, the state lowered the speed limit from 70mph to
55mph in an effort to reduce bison/human collisions,
but the speed limit is poorly enforced.
Buffalo Field Campaign requests that the state of Montana
take immediate action to improve existing warnings,
install additional signs, and increase the level of
enforcement along the ten mile stretch of U.S. Highway
191 from the Fir Ridge Cemetery to the town of West
Yellowstone. We request that the following be considered
for immediate, emergency implementation to reduce the
risk of bison/vehicle collisions:
Currently there are two MTDOT marquee signs in place,
one at the Fir Ridge Cemetery visible to motorists heading
south; one at the border of West Yellowstone’s
city limits visible to motorists heading north. They
currently read “Animals on Road” which does
not effectively address the danger of bison on the road.
We request that these marquee signs be changed to read
as followed: "BISON ON HIGHWAY" flash to "15
BISON KILLED IN THE NIGHT" (death toll would be
updated accordingly). We request that this "flashing"
sign be active during the dark hours, with a steady
"BISON ON HIGHWAY" shown during daylight hours.
Placement of flashing warning signs, like those in Yellowstone
for elk, depicting bison. These should be placed from
the stretch of highway from Fir Ridge to at least the
WY Airport, with critical placement along Duck Creek,
Cougar Creek and the Madison River areas. Studies have
shown that dynamic signs (depicting a buffalo shape
outlined in flashing lights) are more successful at
alerting people to specific areas of danger. The signs
in place depicting deer are insignificant, as there
are really no deer inhabiting these high elevations.
Bison, elk and moose are the large ungulates that frequent
the region.
Enforce the 55mph speed limit. The speed limit should
have a nighttime reduction during April and May of 45mph.
Highway patrols should be put in place during this time
to strictly enforce the speed limit.
Montana State Highway Patrols night presence is critical
as the officers also have the equipment and legal authority
to shepherd bison off of the highway when appropriate,
and can use their lights to warn motorists of a situation
on the road.
Like the stretches of highway that alert motorists to
radio stations for weather conditions, marquee signs
should be put into place that alert motorists to bison
migration reports. BFC would be able and happy to help
provide these reports to the appropriate agency or department.
Require local papers, such as the West Yellowstone News
and Bozeman Daily Chronicle to host a bison migration
report in the papers during April and May, regularly
alerting travelers on highway 191 to their presence
on the highway.
Placement of bison-shaped death markers where impacts
have occurred, like the crosses put in place by DOT
for human highway fatalities. Buffalo Field Campaign
would be able to help with permission from MTDOT.
Montana should secure state and/or federal transportation
funding and earmark it to implement safe passage projects
between Fir Ridge and West Yellowstone. Underpasses
and/or overpasses that allow bison and other migrating
wildlife to cross the highway without endangering or
being endangered by motorists would solve many issues.
Montana should develop educational outreach materials
from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Montana Department
of Transportation, and the National Park Service and
make them available to visitors, truckers and residents.
Canada sets a good example: the parks and the government
send out press releases to warn motorists of bison on
the road, along with tips to avoid hitting them.
Every effort must be put in place to reduce bison mortality
and protect human safety. It is the responsibility of
Montana, with potential aid from the federal government,
to implement the above recommendations in order to help
alleviate the dangers of human/bison collisions. These
collisions, for the most part, are avoidable if the
proper warning system and speed reductions and enforcement
is put into place. The lives of America’s last
population of wild bison and the safety of residents,
tourists, and travelers depend upon it.
Sincerely,
Mike Mease
President
Board of Directors
Buffalo Field Campaign
Daniel M. Brister
Executive Director
Buffalo Field Campaign
CC:
Hal Harper, Governor Schweitzer’s Chief Policy
Advisor
Jeff Ebert, District II Administrator, Montana Department
of Transportation
Jon Swartz, Chief of Maintenance, Montana Department
of Transportation
Pat Flowers, Region III Director, Montana Fish, Wildlife
& Parks
Sam Sheppard, Region III Warden Captain, Montana Fish,
Wildlife & Parks
Marcel Huijser, Ph.D., Road Ecologist, Western Transportation
Institute, MSU
Addresses
for DOT letter:
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer
State Capitol
Helena, MT 59620-0801
Mr. Jim Lynch, Director
Montana Department of Transportation
2701 Prospect Avenue
P.O. Box 201001
Helena, MT 59620-1001
Hal Harper
Chief Policy Advisor
Office of the Governor of Montana
State Capitol
Helena, MT 59620-0801
Jeff Ebert
District 2 Administrator
Montana Department of Transportation
3751 Wynne
PO Box 3068
Butte, MT 59702-3068
Jon Swartz
Chief of Maintenance
Montana Department of Transportation
2701 Prospect Avenue
P.O. Box 201001
Helena, MT 59620-1001
Pat Flowers
Region III Director
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
1400 S. 19th Avenue
Bozeman, MT 59718
Sam Shepherd
Region III Warden Captain
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
1400 S. 19th Avenue
Bozeman, MT 59718
Marcel Huijser, Ph.D.
Western Transportation Institute
Montana State University
P.O. Box 174250
Bozeman, MT 59717-4250 |
