Fall 2023

Newsletter Archive

Can we help pronghorn cross the TCH?

Miistakis led a multi-stakeholder group to view priority road mitigation sites for pronghorn along Highway 1 in southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan.

The fastest mammal in North America can move great distances: pronghorn summer in Alberta and Saskatchewan and spend winters further south in the Montana and Wyoming. Each spring and fall they migrate between these jurisdictions and navigate human settlements, roads and fences. A key barrier for migrating pronghorn is the Trans Canada Highway (TCH). Our recent research (read the publication here) identified potential pronghorn crossing sites along the TCH. Recently, we visited three sites in Alberta and three in Saskatchewan across two days. The sites were previously identified as priority locations for road mitigation that would allow pronghorn to safely cross the TCH. Participants from the following organizations attended: Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Alberta Conservation Association, Nature Conservancy Canada, Canadian Wildlife Federation, University of Toronto and Saskatchewan Highways. The site visits gave an opportunity to gain first-hand context of each priority pronghorn mitigation site. We discussed the engineering opportunities for wildlife crossing structures, the requirements necessary for risk-adverse pronghorn to use crossings, future land use changes that could impact pronghorn movement, and private land conservation opportunities at each site. Many pronghorn were seen during the two day field visits and we gathered valuable information and input from participants that further clarified where to focus conservation efforts. We left feeling energized to continue the work to provide connectivity for pronghorn!