I-90 flagged as wildlife collision hotspot

Between 2008 and 2020, nearly 30,000 reported collisions involving large animals occurred in Montana, resulting in 54 human fatalities.

“At a very conservative estimate, these incidents cost around $212 million annually,” shared Daniel Anderson, a Montana native and founder of The Common Ground Project — a nature-based retreat and outdoor experience organization aimed at deepening the connection between people, wildlife and the landscapes of the American West.

Speaking before the Mineral County commissioners, Anderson highlighted the dangerous and expensive impact of wildlife collisions, specifically identifying Interstate 90 in Mineral County as a hotspot. 

“I look at this issue through three lenses: human safety, economic impact, and wildlife mortality,” he explained. “In places like Mineral County, human safety and economic impact are deeply intertwined. Let’s say a family flies into Missoula and rents a car to go to Glacier (National Park). Unfortunately, they hit an animal but 99% of the time they go home and likely have another car waiting for them in their driveway. For a local, that collision can mean losing their only vehicle — their lifeline to work and daily life. Transportation is critical to survival in rural Montana.”

Anderson pointed to data on his PowerPoint Presentation from I-90 between Drummond and Jens, showing a collared grizzly bear attempted to cross the highway 46 times, failing each time due to traffic. This same corridor has become a deadly zone for elk descending from higher elevations in search of food, water, or mates. 

“They’re just too scared to cross,” he said.

Another alarming example is the Paradise Valley, where the 55-mile stretch between Yellowstone National Park and Livingston sees about half of all accidents involving wildlife. 

“That’s huge! It’s way out of proportion compared to the rest of the state or even the nation,” Anderson said. Over a 10-year span, nearly 1,700 dead animals were documented on this road, representing an estimated $32 million in economic loss, or over $3 million annually.

Anderson emphasized that meaningful progress won’t happen without collaboration. 

“There are many organizations doing great work, and we’ve seen growing philanthropic interest in funding these efforts,” he said. 

One such initiative is the Montana Wildlife and Transportation Partnership, which brings together public and private stakeholders to propose and implement wildlife accommodation projects. The goal is to turn ideas into action and foster broad engagement in solving Montana’s wildlife and transportation challenges.

“There’s a massive network of conservation groups — almost too many,” Anderson noted. “But what we’ve learned is that it’s not about perfection, it’s about finding optimal solutions. Deciding where to build something like a wildlife overpass takes time and research.”

Community engagement is just as important as scientific data, he added. 

“We’ve seen in Park County that if there isn’t a local conversation, it’s nearly impossible to build trust with agency staff or decision-makers in Helena. It starts at the ground level — with the county commissioners and the people.”

Over the past 5 1/2 years, Anderson’s team has completed a comprehensive Wildlife and Transportation Assessment for the region stretching from Livingston to Gardiner. Using data from the Department of Transportation, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the Forest Service and the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team, they identified seven wildlife collision hotspots, with Dome Mountain being the top priority. The proposed solution for that area: two wildlife overpasses within a four-mile stretch of highway. 

“The reality is that Western Montana will require a mix of solutions, including more affordable underpasses,” Anderson said.

A local citizen science project also played a critical role in raising awareness. Community members used an app to record roadkill sightings, submitting the species, date, and location. Although the data isn’t suitable for official DOT use, it helped map problem areas and mobilize public interest in solving the issue.

Joel Boucher with Montana DOT, invited to the meeting by Sen. Denley Loge, R-St. Regis, and Rep. Curtis Cochran, R-St. Regis, expressed strong support for these efforts. 

“We’re seeing that many major infrastructure projects — like those on I-90 near Lookout Pass — haven’t included wildlife safety features in the initial budgets,” he said. “This is why conversations like today’s are essential. We need to plan ahead and involve private funding sources, including NGOs and philanthropists, who are ready to support this work.”

The Montana Wildlife and Transportation Partnership, formed after the December 2018 Summit, brings together the Montana Department of Transportation, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the coalition Montanans for Safe Wildlife Passage. Their goal is to implement the Summit’s recommendations and lay the groundwork for long-term, collaborative solutions to wildlife and roadway safety.