Written by Mark Nielsen
Citizen staff
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Thursday, 02 July 2009 |
This is one of the two special signs warning of moose in the area along Highway 16 that were stolen. The signs had flashing solar-powered lights. (Submitted photo)
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The signs, which were in place for about a year-and-a-half before they went missing in April, marked a mineral-lick area in a right-of-way on the highway's north side.
"That's the problem with this Tabor moose hotspot area, there's a little muck-lick, a muddy area, that the moose are attracted to," said Gayle Hesse, the B.C. Conservation Foundation's wildlife collision prevention program coordinator.
"So, if they're hanging out in the right-of-way, they're often crossing the road or the calves are on the road and it's right at this time of year that the moose seem to have this nutritional demand for salt."
There is a definite peak in moose collisions in July, she said, although not as high as in November-December.
The signs display the traditional black and yellow moose silhouette but are outlined with flashing, solar-powered lights. Although they went missing about half-way through a test period, Hesse said they appeared to have cut the number of collisions in half on a yearly basis.
In the four years prior to the installation, seven animals were struck at that location and since then just one collision has been recorded. However, Hesse said research indicates that for every one that's recorded another three went untracked because they wandered off into the bush after being hit.
Research is showing the regular signs without the flashing lights go unnoticed.
"There's one study from Sweden that shows 60 per cent of drivers don't notice wildlife warning signs," Hesse said.
The problem is compounded by the fact that the hazard that you're warning people about is not immediately reinforced by seeing the hazard.
"If you have a sign that says 'curve ahead,' you know there's a curve coming and when you see the curve, you know that the sign actually means something but for wildlife warning signs, you don't automatically see a moose standing next to it," Hess said.
Hesse suspects the signs, which cost $4,000 each, have ended up in someone's garage. Their theft wasn't made public until now because there was hope they would be returned or uncovered.
"We would really like the signs back, if anybody knows where they are," Hesse said.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 02 July 2009 )
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