The new revenue stream will help address the state’s high rate of wildlife-vehicle collisions
NEWS RELEASE
May 13, 2025
Bozeman, MT — On May 8, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed a bill into law that will help keep drivers and wildlife safe on the state’s roadways. House Bill 855—Establish FWP Wildlife Highway Crossings and Accommodations Account—creates a dedicated fund and authorizes a new state specialty license plate expected to generate up to $160,000 per year. Revenues from sales of the plate will help contribute to the planning, design, and construction of wildlife crossing structures, which have been proven to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.
The Center for Large Landscape Conservation (CLLC) supported the bill as part of its work to advance solutions that reconnect fragmented wildlife habitat in Montana and globally.
“After strong bipartisan backing in committee and passage by the Montana House and Senate, this legislation marks a significant step toward addressing wildlife-vehicle collisions in Montana,” said CLLC road ecologist Kylie Paul. “We supported this bill because it will help keep our Montana wildlife and drivers safe and we appreciate the hard work of everyone involved in making this bill come to fruition.”
Montana has the second-highest rate of wildlife-vehicle collisions per capita in the nation; in 10 years, drivers in the state hit well over 60,000 large animals. Fifty-four people have died in wildlife-vehicle collisions in the state in 10 years. And these collisions cost Montana more than $200 million annually.
“It’s dangerous and scary and it’s expensive,” Paul said.
The data in Montana and around the world demonstrates that wildlife crossing structures like underpasses, overpasses, and associated fencing are effective at reducing collisions by 80 to 100 percent and successful at keeping wildlife moving through the landscape. The science of where these crossings are needed in Montana is also increasingly clear, from data collection, mapping, and assessments from CLLC, state agencies and partner groups.
Through the Montanans for Safe Wildlife Passage coalition and the Montana Wildlife and Transportation Partnership, state agencies, organizations, and the public are working hard to decrease wildlife-vehicle collisions and reconnect fragmented habitat. Several highway crossing projects in the state are in various stages of moving ahead or in the wings waiting for further funding for construction.
In addition to license plate sales, the account created by the signing of this new law has the potential to house funding from sources made possible by other legislative bills.
“This license plate account is an important first step to pull together the necessary resources to advance wildlife crossing structures,” Paul said. “We are eager to see these structures built so they can save lives and help keep Montana wildlife on the move.”
About the Center for Large Landscape Conservation
The Center for Large Landscape Conservation advances ecological connectivity for climate resilience worldwide through science, policy, practice, and collaboration. Largelandscapes.org
CONTACT:
Christine Weinheimer, Communications Manager
Center for Large Landscape Conservation
406-586-8082
Photo: US-93 Overpass, Montana – CLLC/Gabe Oppler
