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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

Motorists as Citizen Scientists: The Benefits of a Wildlife Reporting Website

In a growing number of states, wildlife-vehicle collisions are a top safety issue that generates interest with the public and the media. State Highway 75 near Ketchum, Idaho (SH- 75), Interstate 90 near Bozeman, Montana (I-90), and Interstate 70 near Vail, Colorado (I-70) are examples of roads that concern the public and officials about collisions with large mammals. Inspired by the Canadian "Road Watch in the Pass" project, the Western Transportation Institute (WTI) designed a wildlife reporting website so the public may enter their wildlife sightings (dead or alive). Live animal observations are important in order to get a clearer picture of wildlife use in the roadway corridor. Live animal observations are also more difficult to obtain. Therefore, a network of motorists/citizen scientists can supplement traditional data sources; however, there are potential biases and limitations of citizen science. The website also provides information about the road mortality problem and potential mitigation measures. During a deer/elk-vehicle collision (DEVC) study on SH-75, 312 public reports were logged on the "Ketchum on the Road" website be tween March 28, 2007 and March 24, 2008. Two hundred fifty six of the reports were considered to be related to separate events (i.e. they were "unique") and within the scope of the study. Live reports were of black bear, (escaped) bison, coyote, mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red fox, and wolf. Road mortality reports were of deer, elk, red fox, raccoon, skunk, domestic dog, bird, and unknown animals. In addition to using the public’s reports, the study also relied on crash data (Idaho Highway Patrol), carcass data (Idaho Transportation Department), and road mortality data from four ten-day surveys (once per season) conducted during the study period (WTI). A minimum of 134 deer and elk were estimated to have been killed by traffic in the 26-mile section (an average of 5 carcasses per mile/year) after analyzing all data sources for 2007 only and accounting for replicate reports between sources. This minimum estimate of 134 DEVCs is considerably higher than previous annual estimates of 30-50. The website and systematic surveys likely account for the dramatic increase in the number of carcasses detected. Only 51% of the DEVCs were reported in agency databases. The public reported 38 unique deer and elk carcasses (28% of total) not accounted for by any other method. The findings show that the public’s wildlife reports from SH-75 in Idaho (1) reduced underestimation of DEVCs, (2) suggest that the need for mitigation is greater than previously thought, (3) bring attention to species smaller than deer that a re also killed by traffic, and (4) help identify locations of live animals on or near the road and locations with potential successful crossings. In October 2008, WTI’s wildlife reporting website was modified for American Wildlands’ "I-Spy on the Pass" project along I-90 in Montana. The website template will also be adapted for the "I-70 Wildlife Watch" project in Colorado by fall 2009. For both of these projects, the website, and the citizen science data it generates, aims to (1) supplement existing agency road mortality databases with information on live animals on or alongside the road, (2) provide a venue for engaging local communities, and (3) aid in the development of mitigation recommendations for wildlife. Based on the past and ongoing data collection efforts we conclude that using motorists’ observations via a wildlife reporting website is an effective way to boost data collection and increase support for mitigation measures.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: pp 116-129
  • Monograph Title: Proceedings of the 2009 International Conference on Ecology and Transportation (ICOET 2009)

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01558686
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 9780977809448
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Mar 31 2015 9:06AM