02/05/2026
Take It Slow on Mortimore Lane to Protect Great Gray Owls
Full Press Release: www.landerwy.gov/news
In coordination with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the City of Lander, motorists are encouraged to slow down when traveling on Mortimore Lane to help protect great gray owls currently using the area.
Each winter, beginning in mid-January, great gray owls move into parts of central Wyoming to hunt. These large, striking owls are a special sight for the community, but they are also vulnerable—especially along roadways.
Over the past three years, a couple of great gray owls have frequented Mortimore Lane near the intersection with Hillcrest Drive. Tragically, each year, one of the owls has been struck and killed by a vehicle. These repeated collisions highlight the need for increased caution.
Great gray owls hunt low to the ground, often flying just a few feet above the surface as they search for prey. In winter, small mammals are drawn to roadside areas, which brings owls close to traffic. Along Mortimore Lane, owls regularly hunt on both sides of the road and frequently fly low across it, increasing the risk of collisions with vehicles.
Motorists are asked to slow down along this corridor, especially during early morning and afternoon or evening hours when owls are most active. Reduced speeds give both drivers and owls more time to react and can help prevent further losses, as owls have limited ability to quickly change their flight path.
The owls may remain in the area for a few more months before moving on. If you see the owls, please enjoy them from a distance. We appreciate the community’s willingness to slow down, stay alert, and help protect all Wyoming’s wildlife.
For more information about great gray owls, please contact Rene Schell with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department at (307) 332-2688.
Photo Credit: Frank Stetler/WGFD
