On a gloomy Saturday evening toward the end of August, the Chaleur Lightning ice hockey team had just finished a friendly match against the Miramichi Timberwolves and were on the team bus heading back to Bathurst.
Assistant coach Alex Ouellet recalled a moment when the driver suddenly gasped. “It happened within five minutes of us starting the journey,” Ouellet recounted. “I glanced up and saw a figure ahead of us, followed by a loud bang.”
The team bus had collided with a moose on the highway, but fortunately, all team members and coaches escaped unharmed, except for the driver who sustained minor scratches.
Like many residents of New Brunswick who have encountered or narrowly avoided large animals on the road, Ouellet and the team will not soon forget this incident. “Every time I travel those roads, especially in the evening and at night, I’ll definitely be thinking about it,” Ouellet remarked.
Coincidentally, that same week, the province announced the addition of two new wildlife crossings on that particular highway stretch.
The province employs various methods to prevent moose from straying onto roadways, such as wildlife fencing and crossings or tunnels. Transportation Minister Chuck Chiasson explained that the decision on where to place these measures is based on collision data collected by law enforcement.
Currently, both sides of 331 kilometers of New Brunswick highways are protected by wildlife fencing. However, Chiasson emphasized the importance of not obstructing wildlife’s movement and foraging habits with excessive fencing.
New Brunswick features 82 wildlife crossings, including two newly constructed tunnels on Route 8 between Miramichi and Bathurst. These tunnels, more than four meters tall and wide, are designed to accommodate large animals.
Wildlife ecologist Graham Forbes, who conducted research on the impact of wildlife tunnels installed over 15 years ago, emphasized the importance of making the tunnels intuitive for animals to use.
Forbes noted that a variety of wildlife, not just large mammals, utilize the tunnels. Despite the presence of these crossings, the Department of Transportation has not observed a significant decrease in collisions, with 409 recorded in 2024, including injuries and one fatality.
Chiasson reiterated the department’s commitment to enhancing safety for travelers by strategically implementing mitigation measures based on collision data. He mentioned that additional measures, such as brush clearing, are also being considered to improve road safety.
Looking ahead, Ouellet expressed hope for more fencing in the area but acknowledged the challenges of preventing every collision. He emphasized the importance of taking proactive steps to mitigate risks and ensure road safety despite the unpredictable nature of wildlife encounters.