#Underpass wildlife crossing install

But researchers continued to study strands of bear hair DNA on barbed wire to observe bear activity and whether or not bear were mating with bears on the other side of the highway. With such lag, people (understandably) start to wonder whether the cost of such wildlife crossings, usually to the tune of about $4 million, is really worth it. There are many similar examples of successful wildlife underpasses and overpasses in the United States.įor some, like the grizzly bears of Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, it took upwards of five years for the bears to consistently use the wildlife crossings, even though many other species such as elk, moose, coyotes and wolverines, were already using the wildlife crossings regularly. Not only has the turtle underpass saved hundreds of turtle lives and made the roads safer for drivers, but also wildlife cameras have detected small mammals like skunks, raccoons-even house cats!-using the underpass, proving a victory for a variety of species. It worked and the turtles started using the underpass as originally expected.

#Underpass wildlife crossing install

So biologists involved in the project came up with the idea to install aluminum flashing on the opposite end of the turtle tunnel and also to install open grates to allow natural light from above to help guide their way. Regional Transportation Commission, the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. But the underpass was dark and uninviting for the turtles who naturally seek reflective light such as moonlight reflecting off of water. Turtles crossing the busy Highway 66 were given a turtle underpass to prevent the-coincidentally, 66 turtle deaths in one year -from heavy traffic overhead. Oregon mule deer caught on to using wildlife underpass right awayĪt first the turtles didn't know that's what it was there for. Once you start talking wildlife bridges with people who aren't familiar with them, you often hear in jest, 'Oh right, so the animals can read signs and understand where they're supposed to cross now?!' Sometimes this is near a waterway so perhaps around a bridge, or in other cases a particular forested area or habitat that has been broken up by roadways is a natural place to reconnect habitat with a wildlife bridge or underpass. The arch underpass and the bridge underpass expected to be built would cost 3.5 million and 3 million, respectively. In many cases, a wildlife bridge or crossing structure is put in place where there's already a natural migration pattern or where there is heavy wildlife crossing. The overpass planned for construction, which is designed to be hourglass shaped to guide large mammals across, has a preliminary cost of 8.5 million. Yes, exactly! Well, the understanding where they're supposed to cross thing-they figure that out, sometimes quickly, sometimes a little more slowly, but yes, they absolutely do.