February 16, 2010 - Are You Ram Tough?

Bighorn Sheep Crossing Next 5 Miles.

This corridor of US 97A North of Wenatchee, has one of the highest mule deer and big horn sheep mortality rates in Washington. During a severe winter as many as 160 deer are reported killed along the highway between Wenatchee and Chelan. In the past year, 13 Bighorn sheep have been killed. In December 2009, the Washington State DOT completed installing a special all-steel, 8-ft tall wildlife fence design along this high wildlife kill section of the Columbia River. It is anticipated that a 50% reduction in the total vehicle-wildlife collisions for the entire corridor can be achieved.

Update: The final segment of the wildlife fence was completed in September of 2011.  Initial counts indicates that the fence has resulted in an 80% reduction in total vehicle-wildlife collisions.