Wildlife Warning System Animot
The first wildlife warning system Animot is being installed in the canton of Schwyz. The system is intended to prevent collisions between wildlife and vehicles.
By the end of December 2021, the first wildlife warning system Animot in the canton of Schwyz will be installed in the Bierkeller – Underer Giebel area.
The system is intended to prevent future collisions between wildlife and vehicles.
Accident hotspots in the canton of Schwyz
Every year, numerous accidents involving wildlife occur on the roads of Schwyz. In most cases, driving speed and the sudden appearance of animals are responsible for the collisions. Certain road sections are particularly prone to such incidents, as they cut across vital and frequently used wildlife movement corridors. One of these accident hotspots is the stretch between Muotathal and Schwyz in the Bierkeller – Underer Giebel area. In order to reduce the number of wildlife accidents, prevent unnecessary animal suffering, and improve road safety in Schwyz, the Civil Engineering Office and the Office for Forest and Nature (AWN) have decided to install a pilot system. The total costs for this pilot installation will be covered by the Civil Engineering Office.
How the Animot system works
Animot devices are mounted on roadside guide posts along high-risk stretches where wildlife accidents occur frequently. The small Animot box monitors the area near the road using heat and motion sensors. When a wild animal is detected in the vicinity, Animot alerts approaching traffic by means of flashing orange LEDs, reminding drivers to reduce their speed and be prepared to brake. The devices operate independently of the power grid and are weatherproof. The newly developed devices are designed to significantly reduce the number of wildlife accidents in a cost-effective manner. The pilot trial will be scientifically monitored in order to measure the effectiveness of the system.
If the system proves its worth, additional hazardous locations may later be remediated in the same way, providing better protection for both drivers and wildlife. In the meantime, road users in the Bierkeller – Underer Giebel area should expect flashing warning signals, particularly during twilight hours, and are asked to exercise extra caution.
