More than two hundred accidents involved animals on the road this summer in Jasper National Park, according to Parks wildlife specialist Steve Malcolm.

A bull elk that was struck on the side of Highway 16 is just another example of the number of roadside animal fatalities in the park. Wildlife account for more than 70 per cent of all accidents on Highway 16 between Jasper and Hinton.

‘It happened on Sept. 30 at 8:30 p.m. Nobody got hurt but there was a fair amount of damage to the truck,” Malcolm said.

Parks employees spend a great part of their time retrieving animals that have been struck by cars or trains.

Elk are particularly prone to getting into trouble at this time of year, as they are at the end of the rut. They are frequently crossing the highway at the end of their breeding season.

Road kills are taken directly to the Jasper Transfer Station, where they are disposed of. In order to prevent scavenging, the dead animals are cut into pieces, and their skulls are cracked. Bull elk are often sought after for their antlers and skulls.

“If it’s a big trophy animal, we’ll cut the antlers. Our biggest concern is public safety,” Malcolm said. He notes that it’s dangerous for individuals to scavenge elk they have hit on the side of the road.

An electric fence keeps animals from scavenging at the transfer station, and the site is monitored to ensure people don’t attempt to steal the carcasses.

Malcolm encourages the public to be extra cautious when travelling at dawn and dusk, as elk are very active at this time of year.

Parks officials are concentrating on the bull elk in Jasper and at Jasper Park Lodge, ensuring that trouble animals are quickly dispersed.

Moose are also in the rut right now, and Malcolm said they can be even more dangerous than elk.

“They have no respect for people who are bothering them,” Malcolm said.