On a late August Saturday night, the Chaleur Lightning hockey team finished an exhibition game against the Miramichi Timberwolves and boarded the team bus back to Bathurst. Assistant coach Alex Ouellet recounted the moment the bus collided with a moose on the highway shortly after departure. Despite the driver sustaining minor scratches, the team and coaches emerged unharmed from the incident.
The encounter left a lasting impression on Ouellet and the team, echoing the experiences of many New Brunswickers who have faced similar wildlife encounters. The team’s journey through the roads will now be accompanied by heightened caution, especially during evening and nighttime travel.
Coincidentally, the province announced the addition of two new wildlife crossings on the same highway stretch that week. These crossings, including wildlife fencing and tunnels, aim to prevent wildlife-related accidents based on collision data analysis by law enforcement.
Currently, wildlife fencing lines both sides of 331 kilometers of New Brunswick highways. However, to balance wildlife movement and road safety, the province has constructed 82 wildlife crossings, such as concrete tunnels. The newly installed tunnels on Route 8 between Miramichi and Bathurst are over four meters tall and wide, facilitating safe passage for various animals.
Research conducted on previous wildlife tunnels showed that animals quickly adapted to using them, including moose, deer, and bears. Wildlife ecologist Graham Forbes emphasized the importance of intuitive design to encourage animal use of these crossings effectively.
Apart from large mammals, the tunnels also cater to a diverse range of wildlife, as observed by Forbes, including beavers, ducks, bats, skunks, and raccoons. Despite not showing a significant decrease in collisions, the Department of Transportation remains committed to enhancing road safety through strategic mitigation measures, such as wildlife crossings and brush clearing.
Looking ahead, Ouellet expressed hopes for increased fencing in the region to mitigate future accidents while acknowledging the challenges in completely preventing collisions. The team continues to navigate the highway for games, with Ouellet emphasizing the importance of implementing preventive measures to address the risks associated with wildlife encounters.
