News
Road Watch Now on Facebook
Please follow the Road Watch in the Pass Facebook site for the latest news and happenings. It can be found here.
Road Watch Summer 2011 Update (August 2011)
This year Road Watch has been very busy, being active in several wildlife initiatives. Over the past several months, the Crowsnest Pass has experienced a significant increase in wildlife mortality, due to vehicle collisions. The contributing factors appear to be adverse driving conditions, and an increase in the number of animals crossing the highway, most likely due to the prolonged and heavy winter and spring snowfalls.
You may read more here.
Highway 3 research profiled on May 11 form 7-9pm in Blairmore (May 2011)
The Crowsnest Conservation Society and Road Watch in the Pass are hosting a community meeting to present the results of The Highway 3:Transportation Mitigation for Wildlife and Connectivity report, developed by Miistakis Institute, Western Transportation Institute and Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. The meeting is an opportunity to discuss the ideas and provide feedback on recommendations. Please join us on Wednesday, May 11 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Provincial Building in Blairmore to learn more about this important issue.
Here is a link to an article in the pincher creek echo on the event: link.
Road Ecology News from around the World (April 2011)
Transwild Alliance puts together a news letter highlighting programs and progress in the field of Road Ecology from around the globe. Transportation mitigation to help wildlife move across roads safely are starting to be implemented in many US states and across Canada. Click here to read the newsletter.
Helping wildlife cross Highway 3 (November 2010)
A new report has been released by Miistakis Institute, Western Transportation Institute and Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative called Highway 3: Transportation mitigation for wildlife and connectivity in the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem Report. The report identified crossing sites (mitigation sites) along Highway 3 based on research of carnivore movement in the region and using wildlife vehicle collision data (from Road Watch and Volker Stevins). Using transportation mitigation experts from research in Banff National Park a number of mitigation options were recommended for each mitigation site. In addition, a cost analysis was run to compare the cost of annual ungulate vehicle collisions per mitigation site to the cost of implementing a mitigation recommendation. For many of the mitigation sites (for example Leitch Collieries or Rock Creek) it is cost effective to implement the mitigation recommendation to reduce wildlife vehicle collisions and the annual cost to society of ungulate vehicle collisions. For more information or to download the report go to reports page on the Crossroads website.
Road Watch sparks other citizen science projects (November 2010)
Road Watch has spurred many similar programs on highway segments in the United States. At Miistakis we are often asked how easy it would be to transfer Road Watch to other types of citizen science projects. Since the tool is now five years old, we decided it was time for an upgrade. The tool is now being re-developed on a new platform and will be made portable as a download from the Miistakis website. This means that other groups wishing to implement a citizen science program can do so more easily and at a low cost. Ken (Miistakis programmer) has just completed a Living with Coyotes mapping tool, check it out! You may have noticed that the Road Watch tool is part way through the new tool upgrade.
Join us Thursday May 6th for “Going Wild Café” (May 2010)
The Crowsnest Conservation Society and Bear Smart Committee invite you to a Science Cafe in the Crowsnest Pass on May 6, 2010 at 6 p.m. at the Black Bird Coffee House (7914 20th Avenue Highway 3) Coleman, Alberta.
My guess is that you are wondering, “What is a Science Cafe”? A Science Cafe is a social and relaxed gathering of people with an interest in science. “So what's the topic of this Science Cafe”? This week's topic for discussion is "Citizen Science".
There will be a few science folks to provide a brief overviews of topics relevant to the Pass such as Going Bear Smart, Participate in Road Watch and/or Eagle Watch. There will be a guided discussion about the topic of citizen science with you. You do not need to be a scientist to enjoy or participate in the discussion.
This is the first Science Cafe, so we hope for a bog turn out and some interesting and exciting discussion! We are planning to host a series of Science Cafes, with a variety of topics, throughout the year. Please let Rob (RW local project coordinator) know if you have any suggestions for future topics.
Science Cafe (March 2010)
Tracy presented a few nights ago at a Science Cafe at the Iron Wood Bar and Grill in Calgary on Citizen, Science and Democracy, Why involve Citizens in Science? Science Cafe is a place where, for the price of a cup of coffee or pint of beer, you can learn about the latest ideas and issues in science and technology in an informal setting. Tracy talked about Road Watch as an example of a successful citizen science project. There was even a Road Watch participant in the crowd. Maybe we should organize one of these in the Crowsnest Pass? If you think this is a good idea, let Rob know.
Press Releases
Press Release, June, 2007
Press Release, Jan 7, 2007
Press Release, April 27, 2006
Press Release, Jan 18, 2006
Press Release, Sept 5, 2005
Press Release, June 22, 2005
Press Release, May 1, 2005
Press Release, Feb 23rd, 2005
Press Release, Nov 16th, 2004