Highway mitigation fencing reduces wildlife-vehicle collisions

It is found that WVCs were distributed nonrandomly after fencing and were associated with and close to fence ends and methods of modifying motorist behavior and fence design to decrease accident probability at fence ends are recommended.

Abstract

Road mortality can significantly impact some wildlife populations. However, few studies have assessed the effectiveness of measures to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs). We evaluated highway mitigation fencing to reduce WVCs along 3 4-lane sections (phase 1, 2, 3A) of the Trans-Canada highway in Banff National Park, Alberta. We collected data on WVCs and animal intrusions on the fenced right-of-way from 1981 to 1999. We found that WVCs were distributed nonrandomly after fencing and were associated with and close to fence ends. Wildlife-vehicle collisions were greatest within 1 km of fence ends, but proximity to major drainages also likely influenced location of collisions. Post-fencing WVCs were reduced effectively as ungulate-vehicle collisions declined 80%. Wildlife-vehicle collisions and animal intrusions onto the right-of-way were not associated with fence-access points. We recommend methods of modifying motorist behavior and fence design to decrease accident probability at fence ends.