VIDEO: Wildlife overpass near Boise is protecting big game migrations and motorists

Building a bridge isn’t exactly a cutting-edge idea considering it’s been around for thousands of years, but what about building a bridge for wildlife? Again, not exactly new, but relatively new for Idaho as a way to protect both Idaho’s motorists and important migration routes for deer, elk and other wildlife.

Last fall, the Idaho Transportation Department, Idaho Fish and Game, and Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation and many crucial partners saw the construction of a new wildlife overpass over Highway 21 northeast of Boise. The overpass is a way to protect motorists and thousands of deer and elk that cross the highway a couple times each year as they move out of the high country and down to the Boise foothills during fall and return in spring to roam as far as the Sawtooth Mountains. 

The overpass is a companion to a similar structure – a wildlife underpass – located a couple miles away that has been used for years and also provides safe passage for motorists and wildlife.

Fish and Game has been protecting and managing Idaho’s wildlife for 125 years, and considering Idaho’s growth, wildlife managers must constantly create new ways to protect the state’s valued big game herds.  Preserving traditional migration routes with wildlife overpasses and underpasses are among these new important methods.

The overpass has been well received by the public, who value Idaho’s wildlife and also want to avoid the personal injury risks and thousands of dollars of damage that occurs when a motorist hits a deer or elk.

“We’re pleased to see this project completed, and even more pleased with how quickly the animals have found and used it,” said Hilarie Engle of the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation. “We hope that people will appreciate it now, and also look back 50 years from now and understand the value of these projects that ensure Idaho’s wildlife are protected and have a safer future.”