Posted on 12/06/2020 6:49:23 AM PST by Eddie01
A video posted on Facebook in mid-November shows the outstanding success of the i-80 wildlife overpass in Utah, where you can watch elk, moose, small mammals, black bears, coyotes, and even what appears to be a porcupine safely cross a dangerous stretch of road.
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources: For wildlife researchers, it demonstrates that the time it takes for animals to adapt to using wildlife overpasses may be years shorter than first anticipated.
“From what we can tell, the number of accidents there is down dramatically. At least initially, it appears the investment in safety is paying off,” Utah DoT spokesman John Gleason told the Salt Lake Tribune in 2019. “And we expected it to take several years before the animals got used to using it, so this is great.”
Completed in 2018 by Utah’s Dep. of Transportation and costing $5 million, the wildlife overpass was lobbied for by a group called Save People Save Animals, after a particular stretch of i-80 was unfortunately dubbed “Slaughter Row” due to the large number of traffic collisions with crossing wildlife.
The bridge incorporates miles of fencing in both directions on both sides of the road, funneling mammals to the bridge which is covered in soil, boulders, and logs to make it feel like a natural environment.
Not only are the animals using it instead of crossing the highway further down the corridor, but they are treating it like their natural habitat. A cougar was recorded scratching and stretching on one of the logs, which it wouldn’t do in a stressed state.
Collisions with cars are a real danger to millions of animals, but even 15 years ago, there were already more than 700 terrestrial and aquatic wildlife crossing points in North America, with more and more being built every year, including the largest in the world to help California’s isolated mountain lion populations, which is to be completed in 2021.
< a href=”https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3416838815036581“> < img src=”https://i.imgur.com/Sjlwepy.jpg” /> < /a>
Thank you!
For all predators....
Bobcat, duh!
So will hunters
miles and miles of high fence along US93 between Jackpot and Wells, Nevada and more of these kinds of overpasses on I-70 near Green River as I recall.
The little ones need better places to hide while making this treacherous transit. the could litter the ground with a series of small pipes. Course that is a home for snakes too.
Looks like it has or will become a favorite choke point for predators to nab an easy meal. Not really survival of the fittest.
A brown bear, mt lion, bull elk, and wolverine enter a bar. Hilarity ensues.
Mama Bear: “Where are we going for dinner tonight?” Papa Bear: “The bridge!!!!”
They have some of those in Europe. A lot bigger than that one. They’re quite well done.
“I’ve been lobbying for more harvest.”
Great idea. Put me on the list. I would love to harvest one more big animal.
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