A new Wyoming law allows residents to pick up and claim wildlife unintentionally killed by vehicles on any public roadway. Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon recently signed the bill into law that takes effect on July 1, 2021.
According to a report by Buckrail, approximately 15 percent of all annual vehicles crashes in Wyoming involve wildlife, costing $24-29 million in personal injury costs and $20-30 million in wildlife costs.
Motorists involved in such incidents must first contact the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to receive permission and the proper paperwork to claim an animal.
“We urge motorists to always be careful whenever they’re out on the roads,” K. Luke Reiner, Wyoming Department of Transportation director, told Buckrail. “We also ask motorists to be extra vigilant when they’re traveling in areas prone to more wildlife or in areas where there are natural wildlife migration patterns. We want to remind motorists to slow down, pay attention when driving and be on the lookout for wildlife to help reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.”
All of the states surrounding Wyoming, except Nebraska, allow residents to claim road-killed wildlife, as do two dozen other states.
(Photo source: Wyoming Game and Fish Department)