Bear Road Mortality and Wildlife Crossings

Bears across North America and Europe are increasingly killed by vehicle collisions as roads fragment their habitat, making wildlife crossing infrastructure a critical conservation tool.

Key Facts

Black bears, grizzly bears, and brown bears are all regularly killed on roads
Highway 3 in British Columbia is the most dangerous road for grizzly bears in Canada
Wildlife crossing structures including overpasses and underpasses dramatically reduce road mortality
The Trans-Canada Highway wildlife crossing program has near-eliminated large mammal road deaths in Banff
GPS-collar studies show that bears learn to use crossing structures over time
Road mortality disproportionately kills young dispersing males, reducing genetic diversity
Banff National Park crossing structures are the most studied in the world
Fencing that channels animals toward crossings is as important as the crossings themselves

Welfare Considerations

Vehicle collisions cause traumatic, often immediately fatal injuries. Bears struck by vehicles but not killed may die slowly from internal injuries in remote areas. Orphaned cubs whose mothers are road-killed face almost certain death without intervention. The psychological stress of navigating dangerous road barriers disrupts seasonal movements critical to foraging and reproduction. Wildlife crossings are among the most cost-effective welfare interventions available for large mammals in fragmented landscapes.

What You Can Do

Support funding for wildlife crossing infrastructure in your region
Slow down in wildlife corridors and watch for crossing animals especially at dawn and dusk
Advocate for fencing and wildlife crossing programs on dangerous highway sections
Support organizations mapping and responding to wildlife road mortality
Learn about the Banff wildlife crossing program as a global model