Group urges wildlife protection on Targhee Pass

Correction: 11-28-17

At this time, the Idaho Transportation Department said there is not a public meeting planned on the Targhee Pass project in December.

Original Story:

As the Idaho Transportation Department develops plans for improvements to US 20 and Targhee Pass, the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative is urging the state to include wildlife under or overpass structures.

The group argues that in addition to wildlife losses, vehicle collisions with wildlife result in significant vehicle damage and threaten public safety.

Recently, cameras have been recording wildlife as they move near and across Targhee Pass. Foxes, coyotes, wolves, mountain lions, elk, deer, moose, owls, raccoons and more have been caught on camera, often using the same paths over and over again. Data like this will help guide decisions aimed to increase safety for drivers on U.S. 20.

You can learn more about the “Y2Y” Targhee Pass project here.

You can find out more about the ID environmental assessment here.