Moose fences, warning systems to be tested

[Peter Emberley]

The provincial government will take a small step towards combatting the mooseproblem in Newfoundland.

But a large-scale solution to moose-vehicle accidents is likely still years away, Transportation Minister Tom Hedderson said Wednesday.

For now, the province will run a pilot project with 15 kilometres of moose fencing along a stretch of highway yet to be selected and wildlife detection systems at various known hot spots, also yet to be selected.

Hedderson said after studying various methods for keeping moose off the roads everywhere from Banff to Minnesota, moose fencing and detection systems were the two methods that stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Of the $5 million announced Wednesday, about half will be spent on fencing off both sides of the Trans-Canada Highway. On top of the 15 kilometres of fence, workers will install boulder fields at either end to discourage moose from entering the fenced off area.

The wildlife detection systems, which use infrared beams triggered by the moose. The system then sets off a flashing light which warns drivers to slow down.

There will also be money for beefed up brush clearing, driver education, and a GPS system used to pinpoint and track where moose-vehicle accidents happen.

Hedderson said that the pilot projects will need to be in place for two years or so before the government can make any decisions on a larger strategy.

Alongside Hedderson was Environment Minister Ross Wiseman, who touted the additional moose licences the government has issued.

"It is hoped that these increases will contribute to a reduction in the number of moose-vehicle accidents occurring throughout our highway network," Wiseman said. "My department has steadily increased the number of moose hunting opportunities on the island portion of the province over the last six years.

Lucy Stoyles, head of the Save Our People Action Committee (SOPAC) welcomed Tuesday's announcement, but said it's only a first step.

"It certainly is great that they realize that it is a major, major problem on our highways and byways," she said. "Two people have died every year for the past 12 years."

SOPAC has advocated for moose fences and a major cull of animals.

No one from the committee was invited to Wednesday's announcement, and Stoyles said she was disappointed that they've basically been left out of the process.

"We want to work with government, but they didn't feel it necessary to inform us that they were working on any of this," she said.

St. John's lawyer Ches Crosbie welcomed the announcement, but said it's "too little, too late."

Crosbie is representing a class-action lawsuit against the government for victims of moose-vehicle accidents.

"How come this wasn't done 10 or 15 years ago," he said. "They've been adamantly insisting that moose fencing, for example, made no sense in Newfoundland; now suddenly it makes some sense."

Opposition parties were quick to jump on the announcement as a pre-election move to quell government criticism.

"I think it's very much an election ploy, and that's why we're seeing pilot projects right now and we're not seeing a firm strategy," Liberal Leader Yvonne Jones said. "I'm sure they were well aware that our party had a full platform that we were getting ready to lay out."

NDP Leader Lorraine Michael also applauded the announcement, but called it a "Band-Aid to deal with the issue."

Hedderson, for his part, denied the fact that the announcement's timing had anything to do with the October provincial election.

"This is not about fall election campaigns. This is about an issue that has been on my plate as minister for a year and a half," he said. "I don't think there's any bad time for us to announce that we're trying to reduce moose vehicle collisions on the highway."

Courtesy of The telegram

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