Dear Editor,
A car hitting a deer on the highway involves about as much energy as an exploding stick of dynamite. In 2023, over 40 drivers hit a moose; 19 people have died since 1985 in these collisions. Bear also pose risks in such collisions. Along the thousands of miles of Vermont’s roads, Vermont’s thousands of commuters face the risks of wildlife-vehicle collisions.
Roads dissect — or fragment — Vermont’s landscape. Although these roads facilitate transportation, economy and a view of Vermont’s beauty, the fragmentation causes problems.
Every year, wildlife-vehicle collisions — and related injuries, death, and damage — cost Americans billions of dollars. Generally, the more insurance covers such costs, the more the insured pay. Thousands of Vermont’s wildlife die every year crossing the roads. In short, roads create problems for humans and wildlife.
But wildlife crossings — infrastructure facilitating wildlife’s movement over and under roadways — can address the problems roads cause. Of my own accord, I have drafted a legislative proposal to help fund wildlife crossings.
As I drafted it, the legislative proposal creates a fund and revenue stamp program and offers a small tax credit for the purchase of this revenue stamp and a Vermont habitat stamp. The proposal aims to raise money, awareness and Vermonters’ engagement in solving the problems roadways cause. I believe Vermonters can work together to solve any of Vermont’s problems.
Devin Brennan
Windsor County
