Locating Wildlife Underpasses Prior to the Expansion of Highway 64 in North Carolina
North Carolina's U.S. Highway 64 (US64) is currently being expanded from a two-lane road to a four-lane divided highway from Raleigh to the Outer Banks. This expansion has the potential to improve the local economy and increase the efficiency of hurricane evacuations. However, US64 may also inhibit the movement of wildlife and increase the incidence of vehicle-animal collisions. The authors research will determine the optimal locations for three wildlife underpasses along a section of US64 in Washington County. This section will be built across forest and farmland rather than on the existing 2-lane roadbed. The authors research differs from other highway projects because it is being conducted before the road is built rather than simply mitigating after-effects. The authors will base recommended underpass locations on landscape composition and movement patterns of black bear (Ursus americanus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and red wolves (Canis rufus). The authors are determining movement patterns using infrared cameras, surveys of tracks and ditch crossings, and geographic information system (GIS) analysis of landscape scale corridors. Because this study is ongoing, this paper will primarily cover the authors methods, and include limited discussion of spring season data. Of 8 species documented, deer and bear tracks were the most prevalent. Deer accounted for 955 tracks and 39 trails, and bear accounted for 41 tracks and 18 trails. Wolf tracks have not been found in the study area. Six other meso-mammal tracks have been found including bobcat (Lynx rufus), coyote (Canis latrans), domestic dog (Canis familiaris), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), raccoon (Procyon lotor), and opossum (Didelphis virginiana). Additional analyses of summer and fall animal movement patterns will be required before underpass locations are selected.
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Supplemental Notes:
- Abstract used with permission from the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation, organized by the Center for Transportation and the Environment, Institute for Transportation Research and Education, North Carolina State University.
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Corporate Authors:
Florida Department of Transportation
Haydon Burns Building, 605 Suwanee Street
Tallahassee, FL United States 32301 -
Authors:
- Scheick, Brian K
- Jones, Mark D
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Conference:
- Third International Conference on Wildlife Ecology and Transportation
- Location: Missoula Montana
- Date: 1999-9-13 to 1999-9-16
- Publication Date: 1999
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 5p
- Monograph Title: PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WILDLIFE ECOLOGY AND TRANSPORTATION (ICOWET 1999)
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Deer; Evacuation; Geographic information systems; Habitat (Ecology); Landscape design; Road kill; Underpasses; Wildlife; Wildlife crossings
- Uncontrolled Terms: Black bears
- Geographic Terms: North Carolina
- Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I15: Environment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01588385
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Jan 28 2016 9:01AM