Rocky Mountain wildlife: Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) doe eye, Gardiner, Montana, USA.

For other mule deer images click here.

Like Marcel Huijser Photography on Facebook

All content © 2014 Marcel Huijser

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) doe eye, Gardiner, Montana, USAMule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) doe eye, Gardiner, Montana, USA

Road ecology blog: Salt block for wildlife on top of multifunctional overpass (wildlife and farm road, about 100 m wide), across A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria.

Click here for images of other multi-functional overpasses.

Like Marcel Huijser Photography on Facebook

All content © 2014 Marcel Huijser

Salt block for wildlife on top of multifunctional overpass (wildlife and farm road, about 100 m wide), across A4 motorway, Parndorf, AustriaSalt block for wildlife on top of multifunctional overpass (wildlife and farm road, about 100 m wide), across A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria. The overpass is designed for farmers, agricultural machinery, hunters and wildlife including roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and European hare (Lepus europaeus).

Rocky Mountain wildlife: Moose (Alces alces) among willows, Wyoming, USA.

Click here to view more images of moose in the Rocky Mountains.

Like Marcel Huijser Photography on Facebook

All content © 2014 Marcel Huijser

Moose (Alces alces) among willows, Wyoming, USAMoose (Alces alces) among willows, Wyoming, USA

Road ecology blog: Drainage pipe does not extend under the wildlife fence under A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria. If this drainage pipe would have extended under the fence I think it would have been more suitable for small and medium sized animals. Of course some of these species can crawl through the meshes of the fence as it is, but linear structures, especially if vegetation has grown up along the side, can result in parallel movements of animals. While some sort of ditch or depression is needed on the safe side of the fence to catch the water, it seems that with relatively little extra effort we can increase the permeability of a fenced road corridor.

Click here for images of other multi-functional underpasses or overpasses.

Like Marcel Huijser Photography on Facebook

All content © 2014 Marcel Huijser

Drainage pipe does not extend under the wildlife fence under A4 motorway, Parndorf, AustriaDrainage pipe does not extend under the wildlife fence under A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria. When dry, these types of drainage pipes may be used by small wildlife species.

Rocky Mountain landscapes: Snow covered trees on ridge with dark sky, Wyoming, USA.

Click here for other images of Rocky Mountain landscapes.

Like Marcel Huijser Photography on Facebook

All content © 2014 Marcel Huijser

Snow covered trees on ridge with dark sky, Wyoming, USASnow covered trees on ridge with dark sky, Wyoming, USA

Road ecology blog: Multifunctional overpass (wildlife, bicyclists, pedestrians; about 100 m wide), across A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria.

Click here for images of other multi-functional overpasses.

Like Marcel Huijser Photography on Facebook

All content © 2014 Marcel Huijser

Multifunctional overpass (wildlife, bicyclists, pedestrians; about 100 m wide), across A4 motorway, Parndorf, AustriaMultifunctional overpass (wildlife, bicyclists, pedestrians; about 100 m wide), across A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria. The overpass is designed for farmers, agricultural machinery, hunters and wildlife including roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and European hare (Lepus europaeus).

Montana wildlife: Bighorn sheep ram (Ovis canadensis).

Click here for other images of bighorn sheep.

Like Marcel Huijser Photography on Facebook

All content © 2014 Marcel Huijser

Bighorn sheep ram (Ovis canadensis), Montana, USABighorn sheep ram (Ovis canadensis), Montana, USA

Road ecology blog: Hunting platfom right adjacent to multifunctional overpass (wildlife and farm road, about 100 m wide), across A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria.

At most wildlife crossing structures human presence and disturbance is minimized as human co-use of crossing structures has a negative effect on wildlife use. This may be particularly true for species that are sensitive to human disturbance. In multifuntional landscapes however, we are typically dealing with species that thrive with a certain degree of human presence and disturbance. Research so far seems to suggest that species in multifunctional landscapes predominantly use the crossing structures during the night when human use is low. So, in multifunctional landscapes there seems to be a shift of wildlife use towards the dark hours rather than a substantial decline of wildlife use when human co-use is allowed.

While human co-use of crossing structures may make sense in multifunctional landscapes it goes a step further to concentrate hunting at crossing structures. Yet that is what we see in the image below. A hunting platform has been erected right at the entrance of a wildlife overpass.  This of course has the potential for extreme negative experiences for wildlife when using the structure and this may ultimately affect the use of the structure by wildlife.  It is also indicative though of why the motorway in this area has multiple multifunctional underpasses and overpasses. It is not just about habitat connectivity for wildlife and the ability for farmers to access fields on both sides of the motorway. The greatest push for the structures came from hunting groups. Hunting groups are interested  in maintaining relatively large populations of roe deer and European hare and easy access for humans to the area so that hunters can continue to hunt these wildlife species. Hunters are not necessarily interested in the conservation of non-huntable species or maximizing general wildlife use of the structures. Around the world hunting is sometimes (perhaps even often) explicitly forbidden at or near wildlife crossing structures. The wildlife crossing structures near Parndorf in Austria are clearly different. Ironically these crossing structures may not have been here at all, or perhaps only in a lower number, if it was not for the hunting groups...

Click here for images of other multi-functional overpasses.

Like Marcel Huijser Photography on Facebook

All content © 2014 Marcel Huijser

Hunting platfom right adjacent to multifunctional overpass (wildlife and farm road, about 100 m wide), across A4 motorway, Parndorf, AustriaHunting platfom right adjacent to multifunctional overpass (wildlife and farm road, about 100 m wide), across A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria. The overpass is designed for farmers, agricultural machinery, hunters and wildlife including roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and European hare (Lepus europaeus).

Rocky Mountain wildlife: Coyote (Canis latrans) in snowy landscape, Wyoming, USA.

Click here for other images of coyotes.

Like Marcel Huijser Photography on Facebook

All content © 2014 Marcel Huijser

Coyote (Canis latrans) in snowy landscape, Wyoming, USACoyote (Canis latrans) in snowy landscape, Wyoming, USA

Multifunctional overpass (wildlife, bicyclists, pedestrians; about 100 m wide), across A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria.

Click here for images of other multi-functional overpasses.

Like Marcel Huijser Photography on Facebook

All content © 2014 Marcel Huijser

Multifunctional overpass (wildlife, bicyclists, pedestrians; about 100 m wide), across A4 motorway, Parndorf, AustriaMultifunctional overpass (wildlife, bicyclists, pedestrians; about 100 m wide), across A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria. The overpass is designed for farmers, agricultural machinery, hunters and wildlife including roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and European hare (Lepus europaeus).

Rocky Mountain wildlife: Bison (Bison bison) eye, Wyoming, USA.

Click here for additional images of bison.

Like Marcel Huijser Photography on Facebook

All content © 2014 Marcel Huijser

Bison (Bison bison) moving head side to side to move snow to access vegetation under the snow, Wyoming, USABison (Bison bison) moving head side to side to move snow to access vegetation under the snow, Wyoming, USA

Road ecology blog: Low volume road and cover on top of multifunctional overpass (wildlife, bicyclists, pedestrians; about 100 m wide), across A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria.

Click here for images of other multi-functional overpasses.

Like Marcel Huijser Photography on Facebook

All content © 2014 Marcel Huijser

Low volume road and cover on top of multifunctional overpass (wildlife, bicyclists, pedestrians; about 100 m wide), across A4 motorway, Parndorf, AustriaLow volume road and cover on top of multifunctional overpass (wildlife, bicyclists, pedestrians; about 100 m wide), across A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria. The overpass is designed for farmers, agricultural machinery, hunters and wildlife including roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and European hare (Lepus europaeus).

Montana landscapes: Snowy forest at night, Chief Joseph Pass, Montana, USA.

Click here for other images of Rocky Mountain landscapes.

Like Marcel Huijser Photography on Facebook

All content © 2014 Marcel Huijser

Snowy forest at night, Chief Joseph Pass, Montana, USASnowy forest at night, Chief Joseph Pass, Montana, USA

Moonlight shadows in snowy forest, Chief Joseph Pass, Montana, USAMoonlight shadows in snowy forest, Chief Joseph Pass, Montana, USA