Information about Wildlife Crossing

Wildlife crossings reconnect habitats, allowing animals to cross roads safely. They involve underpasses, overpasses (mainly for large or herd-type animals), viaducts, amphibian tunnels, and tunnels for small mammals such as otters, hedgehogs, and badgers. Especially in Europe, they are widely used as part of the efforts to protect and reestablish wildlife.^[]

The Humane Society reports that the more than 600 tunnels installed under both major and minor roads in the Netherlands have helped to substantially increase, for example, population levels of the endangered European badger.^[0] The longest ecoduct, at 800 m, which spans a highway, a railway and a golf course, is also located in the Netherlands, near Crailo.

Benefits

Reversing habitat fragmentation is especially important for migratory animals and those with large home ranges, such as apex predators (for example bears).^[2] Larger habitats support greater biodiversity, larger populations, and a wider range of food sources and shelter. They also allow populations to interbreed, improving long-term genetic viability.

Success

Evidence shows that placement of the structures is critical, since animals will not use passages that are not placed along existing habitat corridors. Carnivores prefer structures close to major drainages and tend to avoid crossings close to town or with high levels of human activity. Well-maintained fences along the highway rights-of-way are critical to guiding wildlife to the structures while restricting their access to the highway itself.

Research shows that individual animals require time to adjust to wildlife crossings. For instance, a study by the University of Calgary suggests the animal overpasses in Banff National Park are not yet helping the animals most in need of protection. Parks Canada spent millions building special animal overpasses and underpasses so animals could cross the highway safely. Roadkill numbers are down and deer and elk use them regularly. But UC researchers say bears and wolves are still rarely using them.^[3]

This is however countered by the recent (2007) results of a 10-year long-term study of the same project, which came to the conclusion that the crossings were now widely accepted by the animal population (bear crossings for example having risen from 7 in 1996 to more than 100 in 2006). It was also estimated that the mitigation program had cut traffic-related mortality amongst large animals by around 80%.^[4]

See also

• Roadkill
• Toad tunnel
• Wildlife corridor
• Habitat fragmentation
• Habitat destruction
• Habitat conservation
• Habitat
• Wildlife

Sources

• Critter Crossings by FHWA.
• Wildlife crossings cut down on roadkill by Mark Matthews, HighCountryNews.org.
• Wildlife Crossing Toolkit (from the USDA Forest Service)
• Natuurbrug Zanderij Crailo - Goois Natuurreservaat (GNR) (Longest ecoduct in the world, located in the Netherlands.)

External links

• Eco-Logical: An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects - Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)