Wildlife Management on B.C. Highways

We recognize the serious implication of wildlife collisions on the safety of the motoring public and on the animals themselves.

We have made many investments in wildlife protection infrastructure and public education, however collision numbers can also vary significantly based on the size/health of the herd, predation, habitat loss, and seasonal factors such as snow pack depth.

Approximately 5,700 vehicle collisions with wild animals occur on provincial highways each year. Approximately 75% of these collisions are with deer; 15% are with bear, elk, and moose, and the remaining 10% are with a variety of other wildlife species.

To make travel safer for motorists and to protect B.C.'s wildlife populations, the Province has reduced wildlife collisions through wildlife exclusion fencing, overpasses, underpasses and warning signs, located on rural highways.

So far, this program has contributed:

• Over 500 km of wildlife exclusion fencing
• 4 wildlife overpasses
• 29 large wildlife underpasses
• More than 70 small underpasses
• Approximately 1,200 species-specific wildlife warning signs, the most comprehensive inventory of wildlife warning signs in the world
• Wildlife detection systems – an innovative new approach that uses radar and thermal imaging to activate LED signs when animals are close to the road

Learn more about the Wildlife Program (PDF, 2.4MB)

Wildlife Exclusion Fencing, Highway 5

With over 500 kilometres installed, B.C. has more special fencing to protect wildlife than any other transportation agency in North America. The fencing is about 97% to 99% effective in reducing wildlife-related collisions when the fencing is installed on both sides of highway.

• Wildlife Accident Reporting and Mitigation in British Columbia
• Wildlife Migration Response Protocol for Highway Operations (PDF, 373 KB - December 2009) 
• Wildlife Exclusion Systems (PDF, 353 KB - April 2014) 
• Standard Specifications for Highway Construction - Volume 2
  See Section 700 - "Wildlife Exclusion Fencing"
• Advisory for Handling Wildlife Carcasses (PDF, 32 KB - July 2008)
• Wildlife Roadkill Identification Guide (WRIG)
• Wildlife Identification Field Guide - Red and Blue Listed Amphibians and Reptiles in British Columbia - 2010 Edition (PDF, 4 MB - October 2010)