On a late August Saturday night, the Chaleur Lightning hockey team finished an exhibition game against the Miramichi Timberwolves and boarded their bus back to Bathurst. Assistant coach Alex Ouellet recalled hearing the driver gasp shortly into the journey before a loud bang signaled a collision with a moose on the highway. Fortunately, the team and coaches emerged unharmed, except for the driver who sustained minor scratches.
This encounter, common among New Brunswickers, left a lasting impact on Ouellet and the team. They remain vigilant while traveling those roads, especially in the evenings. Coincidentally, the province announced the installation of two new wildlife crossings on the same highway stretch that week.
New Brunswick utilizes wildlife fencing and crossings to mitigate animal collisions on roadways, strategically placing them based on collision data analysis. While over 331 kilometers of highways are lined with wildlife fencing, the province has 82 wildlife crossings, including two newly constructed tunnels on Route 8 between Miramichi and Bathurst.
The tunnels, designed to be spacious and intuitive for animals, aim to guide wildlife safely under the highways. Research conducted on previous tunnel installations revealed various animals, not just large mammals, utilizing these passages. Though collision numbers have not significantly decreased, the focus remains on enhancing safety measures and preventing accidents on the roads.
Despite the incident, Ouellet and the Chaleur Lightning team continue to travel the same highway for their games. While acknowledging the limitations in preventing every crash, Ouellet remains hopeful for additional fencing in the area to enhance safety measures and reduce potential collisions with wildlife.