Over the last five years, Appalachian Corridor has been working with partners in Quebec to keep wildlife off Highway 10 in the Eastern Townships. Every year, 150 collisions with large mammals are recorded on the stretch between Bromont and Magog. Since that only includes accidents where the animal was still on the scene when authorities arrived, we can assume the actual tally is even higher.

To help prevent these accidents, the non-profit conservation organization Appalachian Corridor, in cooperation with the Quebec’s Ministry of Transportation and Concordia University, want to create safe wildlife crossings under the highway, as part of a wider project to secure a natural linkage connecting the Appalachians of southern Quebec to the Green Mountains in Vermont. Solutions could include adapting existing infrastructures or building new ones. Over the last six months, remote-sensing wildlife cameras were installed at key locations on bridges and culverts under Highway 10. “The cameras show us where wildlife does manage to cross and where animals turn back, helping us gather critical information about which infrastructures need to be adapted,” said Caroline Daguet, a biologist with Appalachian Corridor. “We want to make sure we get it right.”

Among species caught on cameras so far are minks, coyotes, red foxes, racoons and numerous deer. Though not caught on camera yet, larger mammals like moose and bears are also common roadkill. “White-tail Deer are the most common. Almost 90 per cent of all road kills are deer on Highway 10,” said Daguet. “These are not small animals. They can cause major damage and major accidents.” The purpose of this partnership project is to protect all species, wildlife and human alike.

Pictures above : 

Daniella LoScerbo, student from Concordia University, installs a camera by a culvert under Highway 10

White-tail Deer are the most common roadkill. Here they are seen crossing safely under Highway 10 thanks to a railroad underpass.