Ingrid Brakop Coordinator Material Damage Loss Prevention

Wildlife Collision Reduction Activities

Overview:   Why develop these activities?   What are they?   Who is involved?   Implementation?   The Future?

In 2001:   247 human injuries and 3 fatalities   More than 17,000 wildlife fatalities   Property damage and injury claims of more than $38M each year   Thousands of vehicle and rail collisions each year Why? Why?

  Wildlife Protection System   Wildlife Accident Prevention Program   Wildlife Collision Reduction Strategy Activities

Wildlife Protection System  Insurance Corporation of BC  InTransTech (Rainbow Group of Companies)  Parks Canada  BC Conservation Foundation  FLIR Systems Inc.  OCTEC Ltd.  QWIP Technologies

Wildlife Protection System  Infrared Camera Technology  Potential effective tool for any mitigation plan  Raise funds for research and development from public and private sectors

Improved public safety Fewer animals being killed Reduced societal costs Reduced property damage The Benefits

Wildlife-Vehicle Accident Prevention Program  British Columbia Conservation Foundation  Private Sector  Ministry of Transportation  BC Wildlife Federation  The Public

Wildlife-Vehicle Accident Prevention Program  Education and Public Awareness program  Key elements to any mitigation strategy  Raise funds for research and development from public and private sectors

What is it?  Raise awareness about Wildlife-Vehicle collisions  Educate the public about these collisions and how they can be avoided  Research new and improved wildlife mitigation techniques/tactics  Fund Raising

Wildlife Collision Reduction Strategy

What is the Strategy?   A partnership between provincial, federal and local governments, insurance companies, police, businesses, organisations and individuals   It will require shared stewardship and shared responsibility from all agencies involved

Agencies/Organisations involved Ù ÙForest Management Ù Ù Agriculture Policy Ù ÙTransportation Maintenance Ù ÙWildlife Management Ù ÙInsurance Corp of BC Ù ÙConservation

Wildlife Collision Reduction Strategy Estimated over the next 10 years:   Collision costs - $900 Million   125,000 wildlife fatalities   2300 human injuries   30 human fatalities   Societal Costs $876 Million

Priorities   Human safety   Biodiversity conservation   Cost rationalization

Goals and Objectives   Research, develop and implement best management practices through the development of partnerships   Reduce wildlife collisions by 50% within 10 years and by 30% by the Olympic year (2010)

Key Actions   Improved data collection   Education   Policy Coordination   Research   Mitigation Techniques   Funding   Measurement and Public Reporting

Causes: Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions   Wildlife population dynamics   Wildlife behaviour   Preferred habitat   Creation /spatial distribution   Roadside attractants/Salt   Unimpeded wildlife access to transportation corridors   Human error   Speed

Societal Costs   Human injury and death   Species at risk   Highway clean up and maintenance   Loss of recreational opportunities   Insurance claims   Policing / Courts   Health care   Lost productivity

Measures of Success The ultimate…...the prevention or reduction of wildlife-vehicle collisions within British Columbia.

Teamwork

Thank you