Wildlife fence keeping critters off the road

WENATCHEE – By the time bighorn sheep of the Swakane herd go into rut next month, a nine-mile fence from Rocky Reach to Spencer Canyon on U.S. Highway 97A north of Wenatchee will be finished.

That means the male sheep, running around looking to mate, and the female sheep that are being pursued, are far less likely to dash out onto the highway and get killed.

Since construction of the $2.8 million Highway 97A Wildlife Fence began three years ago, four sheep have been hit by cars and died on that stretch of roadway – two of them in an area where the fence was not yet built.

By comparison, eight sheep died on that section of road in 2008, and nine in 2009, before the first section of fence was built, according to the state Department of Transportation.

“It’s gone from one of the heaviest kill areas to one of the lightest for deer,” said Mike Andreini, DOT’s assistant project engineer.

Overall, collisions with deer and sheep along that section of road dropped by 80 percent after just the first section of fence was finished in December 2009. Eleven animals died in a 20-month period along that stretch since 2008, compared with an average of 40 every year.

Andreini said until the state has a few more years’ worth of data, the DOT is reluctant to attribute the entire decline in road-killed animals to the fence. He said a new gravel pit that started up when construction began on the fence may be helping to keep animals away. And a fire last year left a bare swath of habitat that may be contributing to low numbers of animal-vehicle collisions.

The fence line includes 11 cattle guards on roads and regularly used driveways that were specially designed for sheep and deer so vehicles can cross but animals can’t.

After getting reports that sheep were getting across, the state modified the design twice, and even installed remote cameras to make sure it’s working, Andreini said.

David Volsen, state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s district wildlife biologist in Wenatchee, said the fence cuts off very little habitat, and the deer and sheep still have adequate sources of water west of the fence. He said the fence has been a joint effort between Fish and Wildlife, DOT – which has worked to accommodate changes – and volunteer groups. “The sportsmen have really stepped up. They’ve donated money, time and materials,” he said.

Partly due to delays, the price tag is more than twice the original estimates of just more than $1 million. But commuters say it’s worth it, pointing out that collisions with deer are dangerous and cost drivers a lot of money.

“It’s nice not to see the slaughter of the sheep and the deer, but it’s also much safer,” commuter Ann Congdon said. “They’re definitely a hazard. Even though they say you shouldn’t swerve, your automatic reflexes say to swerve.”

Ron Bruno, president of the Wenatchee Sportsmen’s Association, said his group pushed for the fence for four years before funding came through, so he’s happy to see it appears to be working.

“I’ve had a number of people walk up and tell me, ‘Thank you.’ They feel so much better driving that highway,” he said. “I can’t help thinking how many people might have suffered injuries.”