On a late August Saturday evening, the Chaleur Lightning hockey team finished an exhibition game against the Miramichi Timberwolves and boarded the team bus for their return trip to Bathurst. Assistant coach Alex Ouellet recalled a moment when the driver suddenly gasped not long after they began their journey. Ouellet described seeing an object in front of the bus followed by a loud bang, signaling a collision with a moose on the highway. Fortunately, everyone on board, including the team and coaches, escaped unharmed except for minor scratches on the driver.
The encounter with the moose left a lasting impression on Ouellet and the team, similar to many other New Brunswickers who have faced such incidents. Ouellet expressed that the memory would stay with him whenever he traveled those roads, especially during evening and nighttime journeys. Interestingly, during the same week, the province announced plans to install two new wildlife crossings on the same highway stretch.
The province employs various strategies to prevent moose from entering roadways, such as wildlife fencing and crossings. Transportation Minister Chuck Chiasson stated that the placement of these measures is determined based on collision data provided by law enforcement to identify high-risk areas requiring attention. Currently, both sides of 331 kilometers of New Brunswick highways are protected by wildlife fencing, aiming to strike a balance between safeguarding animals’ movements and ensuring road safety.
New Brunswick boasts 82 wildlife crossings, including concrete tunnels under highways, with two new tunnels being constructed on Route 8 between Miramichi and Bathurst. These tunnels, over four meters tall and wide, consist of 11 prefabricated concrete segments. Chiasson emphasized the size of the tunnels, likening them to accommodating a tractor-trailer.
Graham Forbes, a wildlife ecologist and professor at the University of New Brunswick, highlighted the importance of intuitive design in wildlife tunnels for animals to use them effectively. Forbes explained how the structures are strategically placed to guide animals towards safe passage, noting the success rate observed with various wildlife utilizing the tunnels beyond large mammals.
Despite the presence of wildlife tunnels, the Department of Transportation has not witnessed a significant reduction in collisions, with the highest recorded figures in 2024. Chiasson emphasized the ongoing commitment to enhance road safety through targeted mitigation efforts, including brush management for improved visibility.
Looking ahead, Ouellet expressed hope for additional fencing in the area to enhance safety, acknowledging the challenges in completely preventing collisions. He stressed the importance of implementing preventive measures to mitigate risks and navigate the complex dynamics of wildlife interactions on roadways.
