A hit-and-run driver killed a 75-pound wolf at Grand Teton National Park, according to park officials.
The yearling male was found lying on Highway 26/89/191 late Tuesday night. It's believed the wolf was a member of the Phantom Springs wolf pack that frequents the eastern portion of Grand Teton. This pack has existed since 2008 and maintained a territory in this area since 2010.
"Park rangers discovered the dead wolf lying in the road at 11:45 p.m. and later received a call from the driver who stated that the wolf suddenly darted out into the traffic lane and he could not swerve to avoid hitting the animal," park spokeswoman Jackie Skaggs wrote in a release Friday.
According to the Code of Federal Regulations, a motor vehicle operator is required to report an accident involving property damage, personal injury, or death—which includes the injury or death of wildlife.
The expanse between Moran Junction and Triangle X Ranch, which includes Elk Ranch Flats, is a wildlife-rich area of the park. Stretches of Hwy 89 in this area contain dense roadside vegetation that can reduce the visibility of animals that may be lingering nearby. Wildlife are frequently found near riparian areas, and motorists should slow down, be more alert and use extra caution while driving through riparian areas with limited roadside visibility. Two such areas lie south of the Moran Junction and also Gros Ventre Junction.
Vehicles take a significant toll on park wildlife, resulting in the deaths of well over 100 animals per year.
In the past five years, five wolves and 12 bears (grizzly and/or black bears) were involved in vehicle collisions in Grand Teton National Park that resulted in the injury or death of the animal, according to Ms. Skaggs.
The tally includes: 2010, two wolves and five bears (one grizzly bear); 2011, one wolf and two black bears; 2012, two wolves and four bears (two grizzlies); and 2014, one black bear. In addition to wolves and bears, other wildlife such as elk, moose, bison, deer, pronghorn antelope, and smaller creatures such as beavers, marmots, and porcupines have been killed in vehicle collisions, as well, she noted. Encounters between vehicles and bears or wolves—among other wildlife—serve as a reminder that animals actively use areas near park roads and also cross these roads without warning.
Motorists are reminded to drive the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop suddenly for wildlife.
In 2012, Grand Teton park managers lowered the nighttime speed limit to 45 mph in an effort to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. Many collisions with wildlife occur from dusk to dawn when a combination of low light and speed increases the chance for hitting an animal. It is important to note that driving defensively and lowering vehicle speeds can increase the margin of safety for both people and wildlife. Collisions with wildlife may result in severe damage to a vehicle, serious or fatal injuries to the occupants of that vehicle, and/or death for the animal involved.
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Comments
Why the sensationalized "hit and run driver" headline? If you have accurately outlined the reporting requirements, I believe the driver followed the letter and spirit of the law. Lot of gaps in your reporting to support a headline like that. Saying that a wolf was killed on a Yellowstone NP highway would have more accurately described the occurrence.
What part of "Park rangers discovered the dead wolf lying in the road at 11:45 p.m. and later received a call from the driver" doesn't sound like there was no driver found at the scene? Kurt isn't a tabloid headline writer.
Was there cell coverage at the site? Did the driver have a cell phone? Was there much traffic on that particular road that time of night? What was the weather? Where there other wolves nearby? Was the driver an 85 year old women? The point of the headline should have been the dead wolf, not that the driver went elsewhere to make the call and file the report as required by law. I acknowledge that the headline as stated was atypical of the usual reporting by Kurt and that is why it was disappointing. I hope it doesn't continue.
After reading the headline of this article, I assumed it meant someone saw a car hit the wolf and "take off", as this is the what newspaper articles and TV newscasts mean by "Hit-and-Run". So I was confused when I got to paragraph which states the park rangers later received a call from the driver explaining how the wolf ran out into the traffic lane and he couldn't swerve to avoid hitting the animal.
The placement of the previous paragraph is also misleading because its contents speaks of the "yearling male" found "lying on Highway" .."late Tuesday night". It is believed the wolf was a "member of the Phantom Springs Wolf pack" ..."This pack has existed since 2008" ... and "maintained an area in this territory since 2010."
This paints a picture of some heartless (and already labelled Hit-and-Run driver) mowing down a 1 year old child while passing through a territory its family has maintained in this area since 2010, Unfortunately, the reader doesn't learn until the next paragraph that the driver was a caring person.
This could've been avoided by placing the paragraph in question after the statement that vehicles take a significant toll on wildlife.
Traveler's always open to help in covering the parks...or contributions to help us do the job. If you want to help out, you can reach me at [email protected]
We just returned from Grand Teton and I can tell you that the lowered speed limit is a joke. We tried to drive 45 and were passed repeatedly. There was even a portable sign up warning about a bear and cubs that were regularly crossing the roadway and that didn't slow people down. Maybe they just need to put speed bumps on the road....
Thank you. You took the words right out of my mouth.