Thank you for signing up to receive updates from Yellowstone Safe Passages. You’re one of a growing number of folks who work diligently alongside our partnership to address and resolve wildlife-vehicle conflicts on Highway 89 in Paradise Valley and Gardiner Basin.

Over the last year we have gathered with locals, agency personnel and community leaders to talk about wildlife-vehicle conflict on Highway 89. We've learned a lot listening to our neighbors who live near the highway, or drive it frequently. The greatest concerns are human safety, the costs incurred from a collision, and the sheer numbers of wildlife that are impacted, fatally or otherwise. Everyone agrees that we need to do something, and your support of Yellowstone Safe Passages' efforts to explore options that will allow wildlife to safely avoid the highway are greatly appreciated.

Yellowstone Safe Passages intends to use this quarterly newsletter to bring up-to-date information out to our community and inform folks on how they can get involved. We always welcome any feedback or ideas you may have regarding this issue.

Please read on for news and updates from Yellowstone Safe Passages.

Who we are

Yellowstone Safe Passages is a community of citizens who live, work, and play in the Upper Yellowstone watershed.

Our partners include state and federal agencies, park county elected officials, private foundations, community groups, environmental groups, anglers, and local landowners, business owners, and individuals who are working to enhance the safety of people and wildlife traveling along Highway 89.

What We Do

Since the launch of our partnership in December 2019, Yellowstone Safe Passages has been dedicated to building a community-led collaborative partnership. This means being diverse in skills and well-informed. It means including all stakeholders in the learning and problem-solving process. We prioritize connecting with locals, sharing information with the community, and offering creative ways for everyone to be a part of designing solutions.

We explore how local livelihoods are impacted due to the staggering amount of collisions existing with wildlife on the highway. 50% OF REPORTED CRASHES ON HIGHWAY 89 ARE WILDLIFE RELATED!!

We research solutions that can significantly reduce collision rates. These solutions range from educational signage, reduced speed limits at select locations, wildlife crossing structures (large culverts and land bridges), diversion fencing, and more.

We interview and meet with local business owners and landowners who have property along the highway — garnering local knowledge and facilitating new partnerships with folks right here in our community.

Many of you met us at the Livingston Farmers Market, at local events and gatherings, Give-A-Hoot, and even at a local bar or café. We will continue to participate in community gatherings and appreciate your willingness to share time with us!

Participatory Mapping

Early in 2021, Yellowstone Safe Passages launched an exciting new citizen science program with the help of one of our partner organizations. The app can be downloaded on smartphones and used to help YSP collect data.

The map above shows data points collected by locals. The graph to the right shows the variety and percentage of animals that are observed along the highway. Thanks to all of you out collecting data. Your observations are valuable and make a difference!
**CLICK ON AN IMAGE TO BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST!**

Highway monitoring

We have staff who drive the corridor — identifying wildlife along the highway. Animals are recorded in our ArcGIS Database, most of them unfortunately dead from a vehicle collision.

Game trail cameras are used to monitor wildlife movement at specific locations along the highway.

To the left is an unfortunate and all too-often scenario. Our staff identifies dead animals and records the location.

We also work closely with Montana Department of Transportation and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — Using the best available data to make informed decisions on where to place future crossing structures.

This is where our work with landowners along the highway becomes a high priority!

Want to learn more about long-term solutions? Here’s a video showing the work accomplished on Colorado State Highway 9:

We also have hats!

100% of the proceeds from hat sales go to supporting our collaborative partnership. Click here, send us a note, and we’ll follow up with instructions on how to purchase a hat.

What’s Next

In the coming months, YSP will be working closely with leadership in Montana’s Statewide Wildlife & Transportation Steering Committee and with folks right here in the Upper Yellowstone — identifying “hot spots” along the highway and working to develop long-term partnerships between landowners, agencies, NGO’s, and the private sector. You can find more updates and reach out to us via our website:

www.yellowstonesafepassages.org

You can also support us by making a tax-deductible donation. 100% of your donation is used to support our collaborative process. To make a donation, click the link below.

Donate

Yellowstone Safe Passages wouldn’t exist without supporters like you! Please help us by spreading the word. Forward our newsletters to friends and family. Host a neighborhood Q&A with our staff. Buy a hat! Join our community Facebook group. Check out our website. Reach out.

Until next time…

Be well. Drive safely.

Welcome to the Yellowstone Safe Passages Newsletter