Highway underpass a hit with critters

WILDLIFE — A month after a wildlife underpass opened under Idaho Highway 21 east of Boise, the animals seem to be getting the hang of it, according to the Idaho Statesman.

Boise River Wildlife Management Area manager Ed Bottum says the animals almost immediately began using the tunnel, and a motion-sensor camera has caught images of deer, elk and even a fox using the underpass.

Animals tend to use the pathway more late and night and early in the morning and tend to shy away during heavy traffic times, when it would be more noisy in the tunnel, he said.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game hopes the $800,000 tunnel will save some of the up to 100 mule deer and 10 elk that are struck by vehicles on Idaho 21.