Dave Cipollone knows the dangers wild animals can pose to drivers on the Trans-Canada or other highways in and near Banff National Park.

The 42-year-old paramedic and firefighter from Canmore, Alta., has responded to numerous collisions between vehicles and deer, moose and elk in the 15 years heB次元官网网址檚 been in the area.

Some of them have been horrific.

B次元官网网址淭he worst accidents are when large ungulates B次元官网网址� get hit by a sedan-style vehicle (that) takes the legs out on the animal and the animal comes through the windshield,B次元官网网址� Cipollone said in a recent interview.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 absolutely the worst-case scenario. Secondary to that is where people swerve to avoid a large animal B次元官网网址� but then inadvertently drive into ongoing traffic.B次元官网网址�

The Trans-Canada Highway inside Banff National Park is lined on either side with 2.4-metre-high, reinforced wire fences. There are six wildlife overpasses and 38 underpasses to protect humans and animals.

B次元官网网址淢y impression is that we are seeing next to no collisions in the fenced areas and weB次元官网网址檙e seeing most of the collisions outside of the fenced areas,B次元官网网址� said Cipollone.

But there are still wildlife fatalities, says the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, which has been a longtime advocate for animal protection.

Hilary Young, senior Alberta program manager, said the most dangerous spot is a 40-kilometre stretch of highway between Banff and the Kananaskis River to the east.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 around 60 or so wildlife mortalities because of vehicle collisions every year. WeB次元官网网址檙e talking elk, deer, grizzly bears, wolves and occasionally cougars,B次元官网网址� she said as she looked down from a highway overpass on a long line of cars, trucks and semis below.

As many as 30,000 vehicles drive through the area every day, she said.

The first wildlife overpass in the park was installed in 1996. Young said itB次元官网网址檚 made a huge difference in animal safety. Fencing keeps animals off the road and directs them towards the safe crossings.

B次元官网网址淥ver the span that they have existed, theyB次元官网网址檝e reduced wildlife mortality by 80 per cent, which is incredible. For deer alone and other ungulates, itB次元官网网址檚 96 per cent, so theyB次元官网网址檙e very effective.B次元官网网址�

Young did say that it can take a while for certain species to get used to the crossings.

B次元官网网址淕rizzlies usually take about five years to really start using them on a regular basis. Elk may start using them as theyB次元官网网址檙e being built. TheyB次元官网网址檙e less discerning.B次元官网网址�

Demand for more highway protection escalated in April when seven elk were hit and killed by a semi-trailer near Canmore.

Yellowstone to Yukon was thrilled when the Alberta government set aside $20 million for wildlife protection in its fall budget. A long-awaited overpass east of Canmore B次元官网网址� a site of frequent collisions with wildlife B次元官网网址� and an underpass in the Crownest Pass in southwestern Alberta are to be built.

B次元官网网址淭hat particular location was identified because itB次元官网网址檚 a hot spot for collisions and specifically for species at risk, like grizzly bears,B次元官网网址� said Young. B次元官网网址淭his new overpass in the Bow Valley will be the first outside of a national park in Alberta.B次元官网网址�

A spokesperson for the Transportation Ministry said the department will continue to monitor the success of crossings through the Alberta Wildlife Watch program.

Darren Reeder, executive director of the Banff-Lake Louise Hospitality Association, said building more overpasses is the right thing to do.

B次元官网网址淲ildlife overpasses have been an international statement in conservation leadership,B次元官网网址� said Reeder.

B次元官网网址淭here have been over 200,000 wildlife movements in the 20 years that weB次元官网网址檝e had wildlife passes in place. ItB次元官网网址檚 protected wildlife from the effects of traffic, and weB次元官网网址檝e seen mortality rates drop significantly.B次元官网网址�

Construction on the new overpass is to begin in 2021.

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press