Determining the Utility of Wildlife Underpasses in Minnesota

Presenter Information

Donald J. Nelsen, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU 284A

Start Date

5-4-2010 1:00 PM

End Date

5-4-2010 3:00 PM

Student's Major

Biological Sciences

Student's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Mentor's Name

John Krenz

Mentor's Department

Biological Sciences

Mentor's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Description

Wildlife underpasses have been designed into some new wide-span bridges in northern Minnesota to provide a safer alternative to over-the-road crossings. Are wildlife, particularly deer, using the underpasses? Are over-the-road crossings decreasing near bridges? For 4 months pre-construction and for 18 months post- construction (and ongoing), we used trail cameras to monitor movements under four bridges and at the forest edge along the highway at three distances from the bridges. We have observed several species of wildlife using the underpasses. We will describe whether the frequency of use of underpasses by deer is increasing. We will analyze the frequency of deer movements along the road near the bridges to determine whether it is decreasing and whether it is less than pre-construction levels.