On a dark Saturday evening at the end of August, the Chaleur Lightning hockey squad had just finished an exhibition match against the Miramichi Timberwolves and boarded their team bus for the return trip to Bathurst. Assistant coach Alex Ouellet recalled the moment when the driver suddenly gasped. “Within five minutes of starting our journey,” Ouellet recounted, “I noticed a figure ahead of us, followed by a loud bang.” The team bus had collided with a moose on the highway, but fortunately, all the team members and coaches emerged unharmed, except for the driver who sustained minor scratches.
Like many others in New Brunswick who have encountered or narrowly avoided large animal collisions, Ouellet and his team won’t soon forget the incident. “Every time I travel those roads,” Ouellet shared, “especially in the evenings and at night, I’ll definitely be thinking about it.”
Coincidentally, the province had announced the addition of two new wildlife crossings on the same highway stretch earlier that week. These wildlife crossings, such as wildlife fences and underground tunnels, are part of the province’s efforts to prevent moose from straying onto roadways. 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, both sides of 331 kilometers of New Brunswick highways are protected by wildlife fencing. However, the province acknowledges that an excessive amount of fencing may not be effective in deterring wildlife movement. As a more sustainable solution, there are 82 wildlife crossings in various parts of New Brunswick, including two new tunnels recently installed on Route 8 between Miramichi and Bathurst.
These wildlife tunnels, over four meters tall and wide, are designed to be spacious enough for large animals to pass through safely. Graham Forbes, a wildlife ecologist and professor at the University of New Brunswick, emphasized the importance of making the tunnels intuitive for animals to use. He noted that various wildlife species, not just large mammals, have been observed utilizing the tunnels successfully.
Despite the existence of wildlife crossings, the Department of Transportation has not seen a significant decrease in collisions, with the highest recorded in 2024 at 409 incidents. Chiasson reiterated the department’s commitment to enhancing road safety by implementing mitigation measures in collision-prone areas.
Looking ahead, Ouellet expressed hope for the addition of more fencing in the region, acknowledging the challenges in preventing every crash. “You try to make the best of a tough situation and implement the most preventative measures you can,” he remarked, highlighting the ongoing efforts to enhance road safety and protect both motorists and wildlife.