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https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/largest-wildlife-overpass-north-america-colorado-reduce-wildlife-collisions/>
“Nine months after North America's largest wildlife overpass opened in Douglas
County, the officials behind it say it's been a big success. For decades, I-25
restricted the seasonal movement of animals in Douglas and El Paso counties,
and was the end of the road for many.
"It was an effective wall that they had to play
Frogger and try to get
across," said Brandon Marette, CPW wildlife biologist. "This area was getting
about one deer hit a day during those high movement periods in the spring and
fall."
But now, a wildlife mitigation system made up of North America's largest
wildlife overpass, five wildlife underpasses and fencing to guide animals to
the crossings, has led to a 91% decrease in wildlife collisions.
"Based on the video feed that we're collecting, huge success. We're seeing elk
herds cross the bridge. We're seeing pronghorn for the first time in decades
cross over to the west side of I-25 because of the bridge," said Chuck Attardo,
CDOT Environmental Manager.
The 209-by-200-foot overpass spans Interstate 25 near the Greenland exit
between Larkspur and Monument, an area that has historically seen many wildlife
collisions. It was designed especially for pronghorn and elk.
"Elk and pronghorn like these big open structures where they can see for miles
in each direction," Attardo said. "For decades, pronghorn going from Trinidad
to Greenland were looking for a place to cross on I-25. And when we open this
up, we have pronghorn on video using the overpass, and for the first time in
decades they're coming over here to the west side."
But in the last nine months, it's also provided safe passage for bears, deer,
coyotes, and other animals.
Wildlife biologists even piled wood into a pathway for small mammals.”
Via Esther Schindler.
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
