Enough private donations have been raised for a proposed wildlife crossing near Dubois to snag a federal grant to finish the project, scheduled to begin construction in 2027.
The Greater Yellowstone Coalition and the WYldlife Fund teamed up to raised $2.7 million in donations between March and August, WYldlife Fund President Chris McBarnes, told Cowboy State Daily on Monday.
It’s hoped that will help clinch some of the project’s estimated $28 million price tag through federal grants.
Deadly Stretch
Hundreds of mule deer are killed along a 25-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 26, roughly centered around Dubois, so a coalition of state agencies and tribal and private groups has pegged it for Wyoming’s next major wildlife crossing project.
That stretch of highway runs right through a major seasonal migration route for mule deer, McBarnes said.
The deer traverse the area as they move between summer range in and near Grand Teton National Park and winter range at lower altitudes.
Other wildlife species, such as bighorn sheep, are also threatened by traffic there.
The proposed crossing project will involve a series of underpasses and overpasses for wildlife to use, along with fencing to funnel the animals toward safe passages.
The state is also expected to pitch in, according to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition.
“Wyoming has become a national leader in building wildlife crossings that keep people safe and wildlife alive,” the coalition says.
“The state of Wyoming has committed over $5 million for the project should it be awarded the federal Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program dollars, along with the $2.7 million raised by GYC and the WYldlife Fund.”
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
