On a late August Saturday night, the Chaleur Lightning hockey team finished an exhibition game against the Miramichi Timberwolves and boarded a bus heading back to Bathurst. Assistant coach Alex Ouellet recalled a startling moment when the driver suddenly gasped and a collision with a moose occurred shortly after their departure. Fortunately, the team and coaches emerged unscathed, except for minor scratches on the driver.
The encounter left a lasting impression on Ouellet and the team, similar to many others in New Brunswick who have faced such incidents involving large animals. The province recently announced plans to introduce two new wildlife crossings in the same area where the collision took place.
To prevent moose from straying onto roadways, New Brunswick employs wildlife fencing and crossings. Transportation Minister Chuck Chiasson explained that the placement of these measures is determined based on collision data provided by law enforcement to identify high-risk areas. Currently, 331 kilometers of highways in the province are enclosed by wildlife fencing.
The province has constructed 82 wildlife crossings, including two new tunnels on Route 8 between Miramichi and Bathurst. These tunnels, over four meters tall and wide, consist of 11 pre-fabricated concrete sections. Wildlife ecologist Graham Forbes mentioned that the tunnels are designed to be easily navigable by various animals, promoting safe passage.
Forbes noted that the tunnels cater not only to large mammals but also to smaller creatures like beavers, ducks, and bats. Despite the presence of wildlife crossings, the Department of Transportation has not observed a significant decrease in collisions, with the highest recorded in 2024. The department continues to prioritize safety and explores various mitigation strategies to reduce incidents on the roads.
Ouellet expressed optimism about the potential of additional fencing in the area to enhance safety but acknowledged the challenges of preventing every collision. While recognizing the limitations, he emphasized the importance of implementing preventive measures to minimize risks associated with wildlife encounters on the highway.