File Photo (Image Credit: Contributed / Greg Arvidson)

By Curtis Goodrum

ROADKILL

Hitting the brakes on animal-vehicle collisions near Kamloops

Jul 31, 2025 | 5:37 PM

KAMLOOPS – According to the BC Conservation Foundation, highways can be detrimental to local wildlife populations and ecology. On average, ICBC tallies more than 12,000 animal-vehicle incidents every year, with more than 900 injuries reported. The region with the highest total is the Southern Interior, which includes Kamloops.

“Every animal in BC can be impacted by roads or wildlife vehicle collisions — anything from as small as rodents and amphibians and reptiles to as large as moose and elk and bison,” said Jadzia Porter, the program coordinator of the Wildlife Collision Prevention Program.

An average of three deaths a year due to animal collisions are reported by ICBC, so knowing what to do when faced with an animal could be the difference between life and death.

“Make sure you’re not looking at the animal because the car goes where you’re looking. If you are in a situation where a collision is unavoidable, try to hit it with the corner of your vehicle,” said Harold Meier, owner of Dallas Driving School.

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ICBC estimates that the insurer is only reporting 65 to 75 per cent of actual animal-vehicle collisions and for many species, the under-reporting can make conservation efforts difficult.

“The Kamloops area, specifically, and north up Highway 5, there are American badgers. Road mortality is the Number 1 cause of death for badgers in BC,” said Porter.

The Wildlife Collision Prevention Program believes the province should start looking into ways to prevent animal-vehicle collisions.

“I would like to see any significant highway update or any new road implement crossing structures. They’re super effective in reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions. A wildlife overpass that has funnel fencing to direct animals to it can reduce wildlife vehicle collisions by between 80 to 94 per cent, depending on the species,” said Porter.

The Wildlife Collision Prevention Program say if you see roadkill, report it to BC Conservation Officers or 9-1-1, depending on the size of the animal.