Road ecology blog: Maintenance sign, start no mowing zone, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, USA.

The vegetation in right-of-ways is typically kept short. The clear zone gives drivers an opportunity to regain control of their vehicle immediately after it has left the pavement. In addition, some studies suggest that increased sight distances may reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. On the other hand, grass-herb vegetation in right-of-ways can be an attractant to large ungulates, especially in heavily forested areas. This may lead to an increase in wildlife-vehicle collisions. For other species large open areas may be a barrier and removing trees and shrubs from a zone adjacent to the pavement increases the barrier effect of the road.  Finally removing or altering vegetation alongside the pavement increases the footprint of a road.

In the image below the management of the right-of-way vegetation changes as it enters a natural area.

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Maintenance sign, start no mowing zone, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, USAMaintenance sign, start no mowing zone, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, USA

California: Bend coastal trees in fog, Point Reyes National Seashore

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Bend coastal trees in fog, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USABend coastal trees in fog, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA

*** SELECT BLACK AND WHITE PAPER FOR PRINTING; COLOR PAPER WILL RESULT IN BROWN HAZE OVER IMAGE ***

Road ecology blog: Bend coastal trees over narrow road in fog, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA.

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Bend coastal trees over narrow road in fog, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USABend coastal trees over narrow road in fog, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA

Outdoors: Hikers in fields of yellow lupine (Lupinus arboreus), Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA.

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Hikers in fields of yellow lupine (Lupinus arboreus), Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USAHikers in fields of yellow lupine (Lupinus arboreus), Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA

Road ecology blog: California quail (Callipepla californica) roadkill, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA.

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California quail (Callipepla californica) roadkill, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USACalifornia quail (Callipepla californica) roadkill, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA

California wildlife: Tule elk (Cervus canadensis ssp. nannodes) cow in fog, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA

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Tule elk (Cervus canadensis ssp. nannodes) cow, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA.Tule elk (Cervus canadensis ssp. nannodes) cow, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA.

Road ecology blog: Wildlife guard for tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes), Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA.

It is important to also block animal movements on the sides of a wildlife guard. Here the wooden posts and fence extend into the wildlife guard.

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Wildlife guard for tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes), Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USAWildlife guard for tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes), Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA

Wildlife guard for tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes), Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USAWildlife guard for tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes), Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA

Wildlife guard for tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes), Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USAWildlife guard for tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes), Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA

Sinterklaas potluck party in Missoula Montana 2013

California wildlife: Tule elk (Cervus canadensis ssp. nannodes) bulls in light fog, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA.

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Tule elk (Cervus canadensis ssp. nannodes) bulls, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA.Tule elk (Cervus canadensis ssp. nannodes) bulls, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA.

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) got stuck between wildlife fence and the wing wall associated with a wildlife underpass and dies, Montana, USA.

Note: you may find the images below disturbing. I primarily make and post images like these so that we can improve the design and construction of mitigation measures. I make images of roadkilled animals for similar reasons.

It appears that this mule deer was in the fenced road corridor and tried to get back to the safe side of the fence by walking in between the wing wall of a wildlife underpass and the wildlife fence. The wing wall and fence should be tightly aligned with no space between. However, here the wing wall and fence have a funnel like configuration. It appears that this made the deer think it could potentially pass in between the wall and the fence, but the last fence post is close enough to the wing wall to be a barrier. When the deer realized it could not go forward any further it seems that it tried to turn itself around. In the process the deer got stuck in the fence and also in between the wing wall and fence. The deer eventually died.

It is important that the last couple of fence posts and the fence that is attached to the posts are positioned such that no space is left between the wing wall and the fence for the entire length the wing wall and fence run parallel to each other. It is not sufficient to have the last post tightly connected to the wing wall as a funnel like configuration of the wing wall and the fence can be a death trap.

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Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) got stuck between wildlife fence and the wing wall associated with a wildlife underpass and dies, Montana, USAMule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) got stuck between wildlife fence and the wing wall associated with a wildlife underpass and dies, Montana, USA. It appears that the mule deer was in the fenced road corridor and tried to get back to the safe side of the fence by walking in between the wing wall of a wildlife underpass and the wildlife fence. The tragic series of events appears to be the result of the space between the wing wall and the fence. Normally the fence should be snug up to the wing wall. Here the last fence post was close enough to the wing wall but the second to last post allowed for a funnel like configuration making the deer believe it could potentially pass in between the wall and the fence. When it realized it could not go forward anymore it tried to turn ittself around and then got stuck and died. It is important that both the post and the fence are positioned such that no space is left between the wing wall and the fence.

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) got stuck between wildlife fence and the wing wall associated with a wildlife underpass and dies, Montana, USAMule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) got stuck between wildlife fence and the wing wall associated with a wildlife underpass and dies, Montana, USA. It appears that the mule deer was in the fenced road corridor and tried to get back to the safe side of the fence by walking in between the wing wall of a wildlife underpass and the wildlife fence. The tragic series of events appears to be the result of the space between the wing wall and the fence. Normally the fence should be snug up to the wing wall. Here the last fence post was close enough to the wing wall but the second to last post allowed for a funnel like configuration making the deer believe it could potentially pass in between the wall and the fence. When it realized it could not go forward anymore it tried to turn ittself around and then got stuck and died. It is important that both the post and the fence are positioned such that no space is left between the wing wall and the fence.

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) got stuck between wildlife fence and the wing wall associated with a wildlife underpass and dies, Montana, USAMule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) got stuck between wildlife fence and the wing wall associated with a wildlife underpass and dies, Montana, USA. It appears that the mule deer was in the fenced road corridor and tried to get back to the safe side of the fence by walking in between the wing wall of a wildlife underpass and the wildlife fence. The tragic series of events appears to be the result of the space between the wing wall and the fence. Normally the fence should be snug up to the wing wall. Here the last fence post was close enough to the wing wall but the second to last post allowed for a funnel like configuration making the deer believe it could potentially pass in between the wall and the fence. When it realized it could not go forward anymore it tried to turn ittself around and then got stuck and died. It is important that both the post and the fence are positioned such that no space is left between the wing wall and the fence.

California flowers: Calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) flower, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA.

The calla lily is an African species and is not native to California.

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Calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) flower, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USACalla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) flower, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA. The calla lily is an African species and is not native to California.

Road ecology blog: Drainage system for run-off at multifunctional underpass, under A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria.

Run-off from roads may contain pollutants from the pavement itself, the tires from the vehicles, deposits from exhaust, and sand, salt or other deicers. Here the run-off is collected by a drainage system and directed to the sides of the underpass.

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Drainage system at multifunctional underpass, under A4 motorway, Parndorf, AustriaDrainage system at multifunctional underpass, under A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria

Drainage system at multifunctional underpass, under A4 motorway, Parndorf, AustriaDrainage system at multifunctional underpass, under A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria

Drainage system at multifunctional underpass, under A4 motorway, Parndorf, AustriaDrainage system at multifunctional underpass, under A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria

Road ecology blog: Wildlife fence and gate at multifunctional underpass, under A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria

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Wildlife fence and gate at multifunctional underpass, under A4 motorway, Parndorf, AustriaWildlife fence and gate at multifunctional underpass, under A4 motorway, Parndorf, Austria