FEASIBILITY OF A HIGHWAY CROSSING SYSTEM FOR DESERT TORTOISES

The habits of the desert tortoise were observed to determine their acceptance of culverts as a means of crossing highways. The observations were made in areas of high tortoise populations under three different conditions: (1) a set of three pens connected by different size culverts, (2) a mock highway culvert system with low drift fence to direct movements to the culverts, and (3) existing highway culverts for evidence of use without drift fences to direct movements. It has been determined that a portion of a tortoise population will accept culverts for crossing highways when directed by drift fences. There appeares to be a learning period whereby a tortoise confronted with a fence culvert system several times soon makes more direct movements to a culvert rather than moving along a drift fence. A test of the results of this study under actual highway conditions is recommended. (FHWA)

• Corporate Authors:

  California Department of Transportation

  Division of Transportation Planning, 1130 K Street
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95807

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Fusari, M
• Publication Date: 1982-7

Media Info

• Pagination: 41 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Animals; Culverts; Feasibility analysis; Fences; Highways; Railroad grade crossings; Wildlife
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00385253
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-CA-TP-81-1 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: E79En06
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: May 30 1984 12:00AM