Latest news with #DivisionofWildlifeResources
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Forsyth Fire impacting lives of ranchers in southern Utah
PINE VALLEY, Utah () — The Forsyth Fire hasn't just threatened homes, it's also disrupted a way of life that families have known for decades. Pine Valley is a tight-knit ranch town where generations of families have made a living off of the land. But as the Forsyth Fire burns through the area, many ranchers are facing both a difficult and emotional challenge. Larry Gardiner, who lives in Pine Valley, says this isn't just where they work. It's where they live, where they raise their cattle and where they've built their entire lives, spending all 76 of their years there. Forsyth Fire burning over 7,000 acres, still at 0% containment He and his neighbors have been working nonstop either protecting cattle where they are or moving them from Pine Valley to Grass Valley, only to have the fire force them to move again. 'It's a hardship,' Gardiner said. 'People were coming in yesterday, day before yesterday, getting their cattle here and moving them to Grass Valley. Then the fire went to Grass Valley, so they'll move them and keep them out of harm's way.' The Utah Department of Agriculture said in a statement to ABC4 that there is an Emergency Disaster Relief Loan Program available for those who have been impacted. They are also coordinating with the Division of Wildlife Resources to help producers find grazing land. They say there isn't much land available in southern Utah but are reaching out to affected ranchers in the area with updates. Diego Luna named to MLS All-Star team again Republicans report progress, but no deal on critical SALT issue Fireworks Safety: Celebrate the holidays safely Navajo Nation man charged for shooting death of man in Southern Utah John Collins exercises $26.5 option with Jazz Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Utah has a high success rate in preventing road kill
In 1975, Utah became the first state to put in a wildlife crossing when one was installed near Beaver on I-15. Years later, U.S. 6 — once reputed to be among the deadliest, if not the most dangerous, roadway in the state — experienced a transformation that earned a national highway award for improvements that ultimately ended up saving lives, both human and animal. The stretch of highway on U.S. 6 between Spanish Fork and Price has been widened, re-striped, repaved and has had a number of structural improvements added over the years to reduce motorist fatalities while decreasing vehicle collisions with wildlife. An Exemplary Ecosystem Initiative Award recognized that effort. Crossings can include such structures as slightly raised bridges along a stream's corridor, or widening a culvert so it's an ideal size for deer to pass through. If it's too long, it has a repelling factor for the animals. Dave Sakaguchi, a habitat biologist with the state Division of Wildlife Resources, said the need for such structures was clearly demonstrated in an analysis of U.S. 6 by federal officials when a major overhaul was being planned years ago. Numbers showed a gross underestimation of how many vehicle accidents happen due to wildlife. Initial estimates put 100 accidents due to wildlife in a 10-year-period, but Sakaguchi said roadkill records from UDOT contractors showed 300 to 500 carcasses being picked up per year. Pew's U.S. conservation project advocates for yearly recurring appropriation for wildlife crossings so they can provide certainty for project planning and keep roads safe while connecting important habitat. The organization says, for example, that the Utah Department of Transportation should have a yearly, line item from state lawmakers for that purpose. Matt Howard, natural resources manager for Utah's Department of Transportation, said despite an infusion of $20 million in funding from lawmakers, such projects are expensive and priorities have to rise to the top for completion. Howard said there was a $9 million project for wildlife crossing improvements on U.S. 40 between Starvation Reservoir and Strawberry Reservoir. The state also has its eye on wildlife work on U.S. 89 in Kanab, but it boils down to funding. There has been some work done, but it is a continuation of an effort that takes time, engineering and, of course, money. Howard says it comes down to money, planning and wildlife behavior. 'On the crossings we've put in, they have been incredibly successful. The way we measure the success is called our success ratio,' he said. 'And for each animal that approaches the crossing, we look on video to see if they successfully cross or if they turn around, and if they turn around, we call that a rejection and on average throughout the state, we are at over a 90% acceptance ratio. And we have also been able to observe pretty drastic reductions in collisions where we put in crossings.'
