Mule deer and moose cross Utah's narrow Parleys Canyon wildlife overpass
Trail cameras on Utah's Parleys Canyon wildlife overpass recorded more than 4,300 animal visits from at least 34 species between 2020 and 2024. When a deer or moose set out to cross the narrow bridge over Interstate 80, it completed the crossing 98 percent of the time.
Highways can cut migrating animals off from the places they need to reach. In 2018 the Utah Department of Transportation built a wildlife overpass across Interstate 80 in Parleys Canyon, near Salt Lake City. It was unusually narrow for a wildlife crossing, so researchers at Utah State University set out to learn whether animals would use it.
Nicki Frey and Blake Ledbetter's team placed trail cameras along the overpass from May 2020 to September 2024. The cameras counted more than 4,300 unique visits involving at least 34 species.
Mule deer were the most common visitors, with more than 3,600 visits and about one crossing a day. Moose were detected near the overpass about 150 times, crossing on average five times per 100 nights. Coyotes were detected 500 times, with seven crossings per 100 nights. Elk were rare, with three successful crossings during the study.
The key result was how often animals finished what they started. When a deer or moose began to cross, it completed the crossing 98 percent of the time.
The researchers concluded that the overpass, although unusually narrow, was used successfully by wildlife. Their report says that helping deer and moose move this way supports healthy populations and fewer collisions between wildlife and vehicles.
A bridge built for animals is working, and the evidence shows that even a narrow crossing can reconnect wildlife across a busy interstate.
Source: 1D: Evaluating Crossings at Parleys Canyon Overpass (Utah State University).
Written by the HappyGood desk from the primary source linked above and checked against it. Every story links its source. Corrections: [email protected].
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