Road ecology blog: Top of wildlife overpass with cover (tree branches and rocks), Hwy 69, Ontario, Canada.

Root wads, tree branches and rocks provide cover for invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles and small mammals. In general, these species groups do not cross open areas readily;it makes them quite vulnerable to predation. The cover allows these animals to live on top of the overpass and also cross to the other side of the highway.

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Top of wildlife overpass with cover (tree branches and rocks), Hwy 69, Ontario, CanadaTop of wildlife overpass with cover (tree branches and rocks), Hwy 69, Ontario, Canada. The overpass has art (drawings of animals) on the side, visible to people traveling the highway. The top of the overpass is landscaped with trees, shrubs, and brush and rock to provide cover for animals. Elk (Cervus canadensis), moose (Alces alces), Black bear (Ursus americanus) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are among the target species.The overpass has a gradual approach (slope) for animals that approach the structure from the surrounding landscape. The wildlife overpass cost about CAN$ 2.9 million.