Animals Crossings are Over The Top

Animal crossings in Alberta are over the top. When it comes to being serious about taking care of the local wildlife, the Alberta government will rank up there with the best in Canada.

I was impressed by the number of animal overpasses being constructed along the road through Banff National Park last week when I traveled through the Rockies with my wife and two of my sons. We were headed up to Sunshine Village to enjoy skiing the gentle slopes that overlook the mountain tops and the most beautiful sunshiny weather.

There were several of these structures built and others being developed for larger animals to travel from one side of the road to the other without being injured, killed, or worse, causing a motor vehicle accident that killed the occupants too. There are many animals that use these including moose, elk, sheep, and possibly a few goats who venture down from the mountain. All along the roadway a post and wire fence guides the animals toward the crossing areas. The new ones under construction will add a few more accesses so the animals won't have to travel so far in the future.

Newfoundland has some big issues with moose crossings that have yet to be substantially improved. According to the Newfoundland government website, there are hundreds of moose accidents each year in the province. It reports that in 2007 there were 447 motor vehicle collisions with moose in Newfoundland and Labrador. The highest risk for moose accidents has been in the months of June, July and August.

Recently friends of mine ran into a moose causing several thousand dollars of damage to their car and giving them a large fright for their life. There is a lobby group active in the province headed up by Mr. Eugene Nippard who knows first-hand the horrors of colliding with a moose. Six years ago his collision with a moose left him with two broken arms and feeling very fortunate to be alive.

He and the members of his action group have successfully lobbied the provincial government to cut back the brush from the roadways. Fences have been proposed but no surprise to me, the province is not interested to spend the kind of money it would take to fence the whole of the TCH throughout the province. That would likely cost several billion dollars.

Perhaps a good place for the province to start would be to engage the Federal government to fund and implement a fencing and animal overpass infrastructure program for animals throughout the national parks as they have begun in Alberta.

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About the Author: R. Greg Osmond is a Platinum Award winning Realtor dedicated to serving the people of St. John's, Mount Pearl, Paradise, Kilbride, Goulds, Conception Bay South (CBS), Portugal Cove-St. Philips, Torbay- Flatrock- Pouch Cove, and Logy Bay - Middle Cove - Outer Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador. For over 21 years Greg has been practicing in Real Estate. He can be reached at 709-895-2500.

Want to get in touch? Email rgosmond1@gmail.com. For more information, please visit http://www.rgregosmond.com. Thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for helping my clients with buying and selling real estate! If there is any way I can be of service to you today, please feel free to contact me!

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