A solar powered experimental roadside animal detection / driver warning system in Yellowstone National Park.

Making motorists safer on America’s highways and getting animals safely across the road are of increasing interest to conservationists, transportation officials and the general public. This is part of a new scientific arena that has been coined “road ecology” and includes many other facets of reducing the impacts of surface transportation on the environment. These include: wetlands protection, endangered species conservation, impeding the introduction of non-native species and reducing surface pollution runoff.

One of the most visible road ecology initiatives is the reduction of wildlife-vehicle collisions. In the U.S., moose, elk and deer that cross the roadways cause over one million crashes a year resulting in 200 human fatalities, many non-lethal injuries and over one billion dollars in property damage. Other wildlife, like bears, cougars, wolves, birds, reptiles and amphibians are also being killed by the millions on U.S. roads.

Collisions, injuries and death are not the only impact roads have on wildlife. Habitat fragmentation or loss of connectivity, direct loss of habitat, and displacement of wildlife also are consequences of our road system.

Kids learn about roadside animal detection-driver warning systems using flashlight beams and stuffed animals in Lewistown, Montana.

Many different techniques to reduce wildlifevehicle collisions and improve population connectivity are being implemented and studied for their effectiveness. Deer whistles, warning signs, and reflectors are examples of simple approaches that have had mixed results. More recently, the focus has been on engineering infrastructure (wildlife overpasses/underpasses and fencing) and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) which use technologies such as sensors that trigger warning lights when animals are on or near the road.

Education also is helpful in understanding and implementing road ecology programs and begins with children. The Wildlands Project and the Western Transportation Institute have been collaborating on an effective educational outreach program that would reach students throughout North America through schools, zoos, nature centers and other facilities to engage young people on an issue that impacts their communities every day.

HIGHWAY FACTS

U.S. Highway Mileage - 3,974,107
Interstate - 46,508
Other Arterial - 383,392
Collector - 788,926
Local - 2,745,411

• There are approximately 4 million miles of roads in the United States, of which 2.3 million are paved.
• The majority of paved roads, 76 percent, are two-lane rural highways.
• Nearly 8 billion vehicle miles are traveled each day, or more than 2.6 trillion miles per year by more than 200 million vehicles in the U.S.
• The U.S. has 1.2 miles of road for every square mile of land area.
• Based on road-effect zones, an estimated 15-20% of the United States is ecologically impacted by roads.
• It is estimated that 725,000 to 1,500,000 crashes between vehicles and ungulates (large hoofed animals) occur every year in the United States. This results in over 200 human fatalities, many non-lethal injuries and over one billion dollars in property damage.

Rob Ament, Road Ecology Program Manager, Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University