SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, March 19, 2023 (Gephardt Daily) — Interstate 80 and nearby roads will be closed at several locations Sunday in Parleys Canyon while state wildlife officials relocate between 80 and 120 elk that have taken up residence in Salt Lake City.
The following roads and sections of I-80 are scheduled to close at 10 a.m., according to the Utah Highway Patrol:
- Westbound I-80 at East Canyon
- Westbound I-80 on-ramp at East Canyon
- Eastbound I-80 at approximately 2600 East
- Foothill Boulevard northbound off-ramp
- Eastbound I-80 from eastbound I-215
- Southbound lanes on Parleys Way near I-80
- Southbound lanes on Foothill Boulevard near I-80
The closure times will depend on the herd and its movements, according to UHP.
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall issued an emergency order earlier this month temporarily requiring dogs to be on leash at Parley’s Historic Nature Park while an elk herd winters there.
Above-average snowfall in Salt Lake City and surrounding foothills have caused wildlife, including large herds of elk, to migrate into urban areas, city officials said.
To learn more about Utah’s migrating herds the last few weeks check out this special edition of the Bill Gephardt Show Podcast.
There is a simple answer. Start feeding the elk and deer on the bench at the mouth of Parleys Canyon. There are millions of dollars left in the Wildlife budget every year, yet the division is reluctant to start a feeding program. This is a resource for our state and it should be treated like one. Sportsman, like myself all over the state are willing to help for free. The results are amazing. This should happen every year, starting in November.