Missoula, MT — Montana ranks second in the nation for wildlife-vehicle collisions per capita, and certain areas within the state, including the Ninemile Valley near Missoula, are particularly dangerous for both drivers and wildlife. Recent efforts by local conservation groups and state wildlife officials aim to address this issue by creating safer passageways for animals, such as grizzly bears, mountain lions, black bears, and elk, to move across highways.
At a community meeting held last week at the Ninemile Community Center, road ecologist Kylie Paul with the Center for Large Landscape Conservation outlined the alarming statistics for the region. According to Paul, nearly a third of all vehicle crashes in the Ninemile Valley involve wildlife, nearly three times the statewide average of 12%. “The situation here is critical,” Paul said. “The frequency of collisions is not only dangerous for wildlife but also for drivers, and it’s a growing concern in this area.”
Paul is part of a collaborative project that aims to reduce these accidents by building wildlife crossings along key stretches of highway. The proposed crossings would allow animals to safely navigate the area, particularly between the Flathead and Bitterroot mountain ranges. Currently, I-90 stands as a significant barrier to wildlife movement, increasing the likelihood of animals crossing paths with vehicles.
Jamie Jonkel, a bear specialist with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, also spoke at the meeting, providing further insight into the region’s unique geography. Jonkel explained that the Ninemile Valley serves as a natural funnel for wildlife migrating between the Mission and Salish Mountains. “All those wildlife coming out of the Missions and Salish Mountains get down into the Flathead River bottoms,” Jonkel explained. “From there, they move up into the Ninemile Valley, where the ridges lead directly into the Reservation Divide. It’s a critical corridor for wildlife.”
The proposed wildlife crossings focus on the east and west Ninemile bridges, where underpasses could be built to help animals cross below the highway. Additionally, the project team is exploring the expansion of an existing culvert at Sixmile Creek to further facilitate animal movement in the area.
The initiative has received initial funding from the state of Montana to begin engineering studies on the potential wildlife crossing designs. The planning phase, which is expected to take about a year, will involve detailed assessments of the area’s geography, wildlife patterns, and road infrastructure. Once the engineering phase is complete, the project will require additional funding to move forward with construction.
Conservationists and local residents are hopeful that the project will reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions in the region, which have continued to rise in recent years. “These crossings are an essential part of the solution,” Paul said. “They will not only help protect wildlife but also make the roads safer for everyone who travels through this area.”
While the project is still in its early stages, the collaboration between conservation groups, state agencies, and local residents represents a promising step toward mitigating the dangers posed by wildlife-vehicle collisions in Missoula County.
