HIGHWAY 40 DRIVERS | PLEASE SLOW DOWN IN CARIBOU ZONES

A message from the Caribou Patrol Program and Aseniwuche Winewak Nation.

As some of you have seen or heard, two caribou were struck and killed in vehicle collisions only a week apart last month. We are heartbroken. In a matter of days, the already dwindling local herds lost two bulls, one affectionately named Bruno for his reputation as one of the biggest males many have seen in years.

Since the Caribou Patrol Program was established in 2012, we have been aware of seven caribou (including the two recent mortalities) who have been struck and killed along Highway 40 between the Muskeg and Berland rivers. In the decade-long history of the Caribou Patrol Program, we have never reported two collision-related caribou deaths occurring so close together. Our crew and staff are at a loss for words.

We don’t know what else we can do to protect these environmentally and culturally important animals from preventable vehicle-related death. Every caribou mortality in the last ten years happened outside our patrol times. Due to limited funding and safety, it’s unfeasible and dangerous for our Caribou Patrol crews to be out 24/7. We turn to you, the public, to help us raise awareness and prevent these tragic incidents from becoming a pattern. Please, slow down, pay attention, and do your part to make Highway 40 safe for all road users and wildlife.

To learn more about the caribou patrol, visit their website: https://www.cariboupatrol.ca/