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Patrols planned on Idaho 21 to reduce risk
of vehicle-wildlife collisions

Law enforcement officers will conduct emphasis patrols early next week in an effort to reduce the number of vehicle-wildlife collisions on a segment of Idaho 21 where crashes typically occur between vehicles, deer and elk.

Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials will join Idaho State Police and Ada County Sheriff’s deputies in the special patrols. They will provide motorists with information on how to avoid collisions. The best defense is to slow down, especially during early morning commutes, explains Rob Brazie of IDFG.

The special patrols are scheduled from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., on Monday and Tuesday (April 20, 21) on the highway east of Lucky Peak Reservoir.

Areas of greatest concern include:

1) Hwy 21, milepost 21 to mile 19. Deer, but also a large group of elk has been near the highway for over a week crossing back and forth. This is in Boise County.

2) Hwy 21, milepost 16.5 to mile 14 (Hilltop). This area historically has the highest recorded deer/vehicle collisions reported. It is the beginning of the double lanes, headed south and where faster drivers pass any slower drivers that they had to follow. Many deer are crossing here now. Ada County

3) Hwy 21, milepost 14 (Hilltop) to mile 11 (Lucky Peak Dam). Many deer are crossing the highway; this is the scene of a number of deer/vehicle collisions in the past week. One deer /motorcycle collision resulted in the deer being cut in half by the motorcycle. The stretch can be high speed due to down hill and passing motorists.