Wildlife Connectivity
"The barrier-effect of roads impede animal movements, disrupt gene flow, and cause elevated levels of direct mortality. Wildlife crossing structures used to 'funnel' animals to engineered crossing locations have the potential to make roads safer by reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and maintaining landscape connectivity. The success of these mitigation strategies must be guided by research that identifies the location of problem areas often referred to as wildlife mortality hotspots".
–Survival and Movement Patterns of Juvenile Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Tucson Basin, Tucson, Arizona, 2008
Arizona is growing. Small towns are turning into cities. Large cities are expanding their footprint into once pristine wildlife habitat. Connecting these areas of growth is an ever-increasing network of roadways. As these roadway systems expand, wildlife travel corridors are intersected, resulting in an increase of motorist-wildlife conflicts.
Identifying problem areas and offering alternatives to these conflicts will help ensure the safety of motorists and the well-being of our unique wildlife. The Wildlife Contracts Branch designs and implements rigorous studies that help inform responsible infrastructure growth and offer solutions that benefit both wildlife and humans alike.
Wildlife Connectivity and Corridors Projects
- State Route 260 Wildlife Movement Study and Implementation
- Pronghorn Movement North of I-40 Study
- McDowell Sonoran Preserve Wildlife Linkage Study
- US 93 Desert Bighorn Sheep Overpasses and Underpasses
- ADOT State Route 86 Wildlife Linkage Study
- Town of Oro Valley Tangerine Road Wildlife Linkage Study
- Town of Marana Tangerine Road Wildlife Linkage Study
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