EVALUATION OF THE S.R. 46 WILDLIFE CROSSING IN LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA

Habitat loss is perhaps the greatest threat to the bear's future in Florida, but habitat fragmentation and roadkill mortality due to highways and vehicle traffic also pose serious threats. Gilbert and Wooding (1994) examined black bear roadkills in Florida from the period 1976-93, finding 12 areas in the state where black bear roadkills were concentrated. The worst of the 12 problem sites occurred in Lake County on a portion of S.R. 46, a heavily traveled two-lane highway. The S.R. 46 wildlife crossing was constructed in 1994. The floor of the crossing was at ground level, and the road was elevated over the culvert. Barrier fencing was also installed and the forests on each side of the crossing were modified to help bears find the crossing. A study of the crossing found that black bears and at least 11 other species safely traveled through the crossing. The barrier fencing was effective; there were no bear roadkills in the fenced area, but five bears were killed in the unfenced area. Most (64%) bears encountering the fence walked it for less than 25 m before leaving the roadway. The greatest distances that bears walked the fence were 400 m and 500 m. Habitat modification to funnel bears towards the crossing is still under investigation.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Features: References; Tables;
  • Pagination: p. 329-336

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00745677
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-PD-96-041
  • Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: Feb 3 1998 12:00AM