Wildlife crossings aren't enough to curb roadkill hot spots, researchers say

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Set us as preferred Wildlife crossings being built across California to help reduce collisions between animals and vehicles are not enough to protect the state’s at-risk wildlife and should be enhanced with extensive fencing, according to a new UC study.The annual California Roadkill Hotspots Report, published by the UC Davis’ Road Ecology Center, found that wildlife-vehicle collisions each year are killing about 780 mountain lions, or 18% of the state’s mountain lion population, and about 44,000 mule deer, roughly 9.5% of the state’s population.

The report analyzes data from the California Roadkill Observation System, the largest database of agency and volunteer-collected carcass data.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.Shilling and his team’s report was published nearly a week after two coyotes were recorded trying to ascend the uncompleted Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, 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.Several more wildlife crossing projects are in the pipeline, 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.

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.“It makes sense t...