HAUSER, Idaho – A stretch along Highway 53 near Rathdrum and the Idaho state line has some residents concerned about wildlife crossing the road.
Viewer Doug Garber emailed KREM 2 saying he had seen an increasing problem with elk in the area. He drives along that stretch of road every day and said he saw at least 10 dangerous accidents involving elk and drivers in the last year.
He did not want to talk on camera but a local business owner echoed what the man emailed in.
“I have definitely watched the elk through here for years,” Timothy Hankins said, who own Heavenly Brews. “I've watched them come across out here."
Hankins has been in the area for years and has seen several collisions with elk, moose and deer.
According to Idaho Fish and Game, a herd estimated at roughly 40 elk came down to this area near Hauser from Rathdrum Mountain 10 years ago due to heavy snow. They have now stayed in this area, often crossing Highway 53 to come to the prairie.
The busy highway has no mercy, though.
"I drive this stretch of the road every morning and last year alone I saw at least 10 dead elk on the side of the road," Garber said in the email.
He feels that it's a safety issue for drivers, too. Garber pointed out that there are at least two of these warning signs near the state line. But the lights haven’t blinked in a couple of years, according to Garber.
He wondered if any additional electronic signs on trailers could be placed here for the time being. Garber told KREM 2’s Taylor Viydo that Idaho Transportation Department emailed him saying that the department a few weeks ago actually ordered newer, brighter lights to put on the signs and that they will be swapped out shortly. An employee also told him that they would look in to the possibility of temporary signs or larger ones for the winter.
“When an animal is getting chased or running, and runs out across traffic, there's nothing you're going to do about it. It's just done," Hankins said.