Wildlife crossings being built across California to help reduce collisions between animals and vehicles are not enough to protect the state\u2019s at-risk wildlife and should be enhanced with extensive fencing, according to a new UC study. <\/p>\n
The annual California Roadkill Hotspots Report, published by the UC Davis\u2019 Road Ecology Center, found that wildlife-vehicle collisions each year are killing about 780 mountain lions, or 18% of the state\u2019s mountain lion population, and about 44,000 mule deer, roughly 9.5% of the state\u2019s population. The report analyzes data from the California Roadkill Observation System, the largest database of agency and volunteer-collected carcass data.<\/p>\n
Fraser Shilling, director of the Road Ecology Center, and his team determined that extensive fencing on highways is the solution to reducing roadkill, not just wildlife crossings. <\/p>\n
Shilling and his team\u2019s report was published nearly a week after two coyotes were recorded trying to ascend the uncompleted Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing<\/a>, which covers 10 lanes of traffic over the 101 Freeway. The intent behind this wildlife crossing was to provide safe passage across the busy freeway for wildlife and aid mountain lions suffering from the effects of inbreeding caused by limited roaming range.<\/p>\n Several more wildlife crossing projects are in the pipeline<\/a>, including two planned near the Morongo and Yucca grades on State Route 62. Caltrans is working with the state Department and Fish and Wildlife and other partners to build three more crossings on Interstate 15 between Los Angeles and Nevada. <\/p>\n Research suggests that wildlife crossings with fencing can cut large-animal collisions by more than 80%, making it among the most effective ways to improve driver safety and wildlife connectivity, according to the Pew Research Center<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cIt makes sense to plan and build new wildlife crossings where wildlife are still migrating, such as Interstate 8 near the border with Mexico and across the several highways blocking elk and deer migration in northeastern California,\u201d Shilling said in a statement. \u201cBut just building a crossing doesn\u2019t mean wildlife will use it \u2014 they\u2019ll try to cross wherever they are.\u201d<\/p>\n He argues that fencing is important in sections of the highway that are considered roadkill hot spots and in areas next to creeks and minor road undercrossings where animals are already passing through. <\/p>\n