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SALT LAKE CITY — A year ago, the Utah Wildlife Resources Agency and the Utah Department of Transportation launched Utah Roadkill Reporter, an app for Utahns to report traffic incidents to authorities.
“It’s important to understand how many wildlife-vehicle collisions occur in Utah,” said Blair Stringham. “This new app will help us know exactly when and where collisions occur. “This will help identify hotspot areas on Utah’s highways.” Migration Initiatives Coordinator for the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources when the app was released.
When someone files a traffic accident report in the app, the report includes the type of animal and the GPS location of where the accident occurred.
After a year of data and reporting, what does it show and how is this app helping biologists with wildlife movement?
Up to 10,000 deer killed
In its first year, 3,843 animals were reported through the app. Approximately 98% of the animals reported killed by vehicles were mule deer, totaling 3,611.
“This app helps keep Utah’s roadways safe by helping us more quickly remove carcasses that could pose a traffic hazard,” said Matt Howard, UDOT’s Natural Resources Manager. stated in the release. “Additionally, the data collected from the app will help determine where wildlife fencing and crosswalks may be installed to protect people and wildlife.”
However, wildlife officials estimate that only about half of deer-vehicle collisions are reported, and that nearly 10,000 deer are struck and killed on Utah roads each year. .
Other wildlife species killed by cars in Utah reported on the app in the past year include:
- American badger: 1 animal
- Bighorn sheep: 2
- Asian black bears: 2
- Magpie: 1 bird
- Bobcat: 1
- Canyon tree frog: 1
- Cougar: 8
- Coyote: 5
- Elk: 157
- Northern raccoon dog: 17 animals
- Porcupine: 1
- Pronghorn: 22
- Red fox: 3
- Snowshoe hare: 1
- Türkiye: 3
Nearly 5,000 crashes reported
Last year, state wildlife officials said there were nearly 5,000 reported collisions with deer in the state and an additional 166 collisions with elk, but those numbers may also be lower than the actual total. Highly sexual.
Stringham said the data collected through the app helps DWR and UDOT understand new areas where wildlife is being harmed and even identify specific problem areas.
“As we collect more data, we will know more about when and where animals cross roads, and we will be able to implement projects based on local needs: wildlife fencing, underpasses, overpasses. , signage and more will come from this important data,” Stringham added.
The app can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store.