Save People Save Wildlife

Safe Passage for Wildlife on our Roadways

This year, we are thanking our generous community in advance for their help 

to create safe passage for wildlife along SR224.

We need to convince our leaders and entities that wildlife crossings work!  And the return on investment is high, meaning that crossings pay for themselves in a relatively short period of time.  In order for the crossings to be effective, wildlife fencing guides them to the crossings (underpasses and overpasses) and cattle guards keep them off of the roadways at the driveways and cross streets.

Bringing money to the table moves these issues up on the priority list for entities such as UDOT.  

Inquire with prospective candidates about their stance on wildlife and wildlife connectivity placement.

Please speak with your donation dollars that this area is a priority...

before all of our wildlife have been hit on our roads or relocated.

DWR relocates calves of moose killed earlier this week on SR-224

Continuing Efforts: Why Should I Donate to Save People Save Wildlife?

Donated funds will be used to continue our direct mitigation and advocacy efforts focused on CLOSING ALL OF THE GAPS ON I80 (Kimball Junction to Silver Creek Junction/Highway 40 to meet existing wildlife fencing).

We are advocating for wildlife connectivity components on SR224 (fencing, crossings, cattle guards). 

About Us

Save People Save Wildlife (SPSW) was founded in 2015 by a group of local residents who were alarmed by the number of wildlife being hit and killed by vehicles along Interstate 80 between Parleys Summit and Silver Creek Junction...the gateway to Park City.

At that time, UDOT's right of way barbed wire fencing along the interstate from Summit Park through the Jeremy Ranch Exit was in disrepair and, in some cases, non-existent. There were no cattle guards at the Summit Park on or off-ramps to keep wildlife from using those ramps to access the interstate. 

Because this corridor is - and always has been- a natural path for wildlife, it meant that moose, deer, elk and other animals had only one option:  crossing the freeway and encountering oncoming vehicles traveling at rates well over 70 mph.

SPSW members were determined to advocate for safety measures along this dangerous corridor.  We began meeting with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and Summit County and soon learned that there is limited funding available to keep our motorists and wildlife safe and that UDOT has other priorities.  This is when we began to advocate and fundraise for money to help close the gaps in the wildlife fencing where Federal and State entities fail to adequately address. 

Accomplishments: Save People Save Wildlife has engaged in extensive advocacy efforts via our ongoing partnership with UDOT:

•    Raised $42,000.00 from generous donors and community members for the initial mile of wildlife fencing along the Jeremy Ranch Exit, which then accelerated the following:

•    Installation of the world renowned wildlife crossing at Parleys Summit: Officially opened for wildlife to use in December of 2018;

•    Installation of cattle guards at Summit Park and Jeremy Ranch on and off ramps;

•    Continuous wildlife fencing from Parleys Summit to just west of Kimball Junction;

• Contributed $34,000.00 of donor dollars to UDOT toward the next mile of cost-shared wildlife fencing along I80 along the north boundary of Swaner Preserve-placement scheduled for May 31, 2023;

•    Educated thousands of community residents through media, community outreach and educational materials on the importance of coexisting with wildlife.

TOGETHER, WE CAN FIND THE FUNDING TO PROVIDE SAFE PASSAGE FOR WILDLIFE ON OUR ROADS.

Thank you from all of us at Save People Save Wildlife!