States findings of the Legislature and supports wildlife crossings.

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026
IN THE SENATE
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 124
BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION	1
STATING FINDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND SUPPORTING WILDLIFE CROSSINGS.	2
Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:	3
WHEREAS, Idaho is home to abundant populations of big game species, in-	4
cluding mule deer, elk, and pronghorn, that require intact, long-distance	5
seasonal migrations to access critical habitat for survival; and	6
WHEREAS, more than 50 big game migration corridors have been mapped	7
across the state, demonstrating that landscape connectivity is vital to	8
Idaho's wildlife and outdoor heritage; and	9
WHEREAS, preserving and promoting big game migration corridors con-	10
tributes to Idaho's robust economy and outdoor traditions by promoting	11
healthy wildlife populations that support hunting, outfitting, and other	12
outdoor recreation industries; and	13
WHEREAS, significant numbers of mule deer, elk, and pronghorn crossing	14
Idaho's highways pose a danger to both wildlife and humans, leading to ele-	15
vated rates of wildlife-vehicle collisions that result in preventable mor-	16
tality for both wildlife and humans; and	17
WHEREAS, each year, hundreds of wildlife-vehicle collisions endanger	18
human lives and cause millions of dollars in property damage and insurance	19
costs; and	20
WHEREAS, wildlife-vehicle collisions pose a clear risk to public	21
safety, but such risk may be mitigated by certain infrastructure projects;	22
and	23
WHEREAS, where appropriate and supported by the local community,	24
strategic investments in wildlife crossings, such as overpasses, under-	25
passes, and related fencing, have proven highly effective in reducing	26
wildlife-vehicle collisions by over 80% while maintaining the integrity of	27
migration corridors, enabling wildlife to travel between summer and winter	28
ranges; and	29
WHEREAS, multiple infrastructure projects in Idaho facilitating the	30
safe movement of wildlife across roadways, including the first wildlife	31
overpass constructed in the state, the Cervidae Peak Wildlife Overpass over	32
Highway 21, have shown significant benefits to wildlife movement and to re-	33
ductions in wildlife-vehicle collisions, demonstrating the effectiveness	34
of crossing structures and providing a basis of success to build on else-	35
where; and	36
WHEREAS, engaging with local communities and providing affected stake-	37
holders with relevant information regarding associated infrastructure	38
projects for facilitating wildlife movement across highways is an important	39
component of implementing initiatives to conserve intact migration corri-	40
dors in Idaho; and	41
WHEREAS, a proactive approach to promoting intact wildlife migration	42
corridors, including coordination with state agencies and local commu-	43

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nities, will contribute to the long-term viability of Idaho's wildlife	1
resources and enhance public safety.	2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-	3
sion of the Sixty-eighth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of Rep-	4
resentatives concurring therein, that the Legislature strongly supports the	5
advancement of public safety and conservation of Idaho's big game migration	6
corridors through the development and implementation of wildlife crossings	7
where appropriate and supported by local communities.	8
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be transmitted to	9
the congressional delegation representing the State of Idaho in the Congress	10
of the United States, the Governor of the State of Idaho, the Director of the	11
Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and the Director of the Idaho Transporta-	12
tion Department.	13

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