Invest in Wildlife Crossings

The Nugget Newspaper letter to the editor by Nancy Hinnen

As a resident of Black Butte Ranch, I am keenly aware of the risks of driving Highway 20 between Bend and Suttle Lake. This stretch has the highest density of deer and elk-vehicle collisions in Oregon, endangering both people and wildlife. Every year, our state sees over 7,000 wildlife-vehicle collisions, leading to serious injuries and even fatalities.  In a room full of BBR friends, I can point in any direction to someone who has been affected by a wildlife-vehicle collision.  In the high season, the carcasses of elk and deer trim the edges of Highway 20, a sight both tragic and cautionary.