Use of a Motorway Wildlife Bridge (Overpass) by Large Animals

Journal

Netherlands Journal of Zoology, 1 January 2001, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 97-105(9)

Authors

Van Wieren S. E., Worm P. B.

Abstract

We studied how mammals used a wildlife overpass across a motorway in central Netherlands using track counts in 1989, 1994 and 1995. Throughout the study the overpass was used most frequently by red deer and wild boar and, less often, by roe deer, red fox, fallow deer, Highland cattle, and badger. For red deer and wild boar the highest incidence of use was in autumn/early winter, correlating with the rutting season. Small mammals caught on the overpass were wood mouse, common vole and common shrew. The wildlife overpasses can be an effective means of connecting habitats for a wide range of mammals but the effectiveness is related to the width of the overpass.

For large mammals a minimum width of 40-50 meters is recommended.

Keywords

HABITAT FRAGMENTATION; MAMMALS; WILDLIFE OVERPASS

Web site

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