Group tracks wildlife movement with cameras in Targhee Pass

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – An environmental group is documenting the movement of wildlife through the Targhee Pass on the Idaho-Montana border in an effort to push for the construction of safe wildlife passages.

The Post Register reported the group Yellowstone to Yukon has deployed 14 motion-activated wildlife cameras that have captured more than 5,000 photos of wildlife mostly near U.S. Highway 20.

Program director Kim Trotter said the group hopes to provide the information collected from the cameras to the Idaho Transportation Department in order to identify sites for wildlife overpasses.

Trotter said many different kinds of animals traverse the Targhee Pass area and many of the animals use the same pathways.

Trotter said the group was inspired by similar overpass projects in Wyoming that have reduced the number of car wrecks involving animals.