General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat a GREAT idea: Wildlife Bridges!
Some of you are no doubt familiar with this concept, but I think tonight is the first time I've seen this, and I think it's BRILLIANT!
"As discussed in fastcodesign.coms article Can a Wildlife Bridge Fix Americas $8 Billion Roadkill Problem? the safety of wildlife is an ever-present danger and tragedy on our highways.
Wildlife overpasses, green bridges, and ecoducts all refer to structures that have been built over roads to allow wildlife to cross safely to the other side of the road. The bridges are for the animals; the animals walk over the road, and the vehicles go through the structure. Here are pictures of a few existing wildlife bridges or ecoducts."
CLICK HERE to see more images: http://www.ourcollectivegood.com/animals-ecology-wildlife/wildlife-bridges/
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,298 posts)The pictures are wonderful!
loli phabay
(5,580 posts)so you will still get them crossing over at other places rather than walking up to the bridge.
fishwax
(29,146 posts)It's true that deer can't read road signs, but they (like most animals) would rather walk on soil than on concrete, so tend to find such crossings. (The fences help, too, I suppose.)
http://www.thecleanestline.com/2009/02/mule-deer-and-underpasses.html
loli phabay
(5,580 posts)its a good idea but deer will probuably still get hit, just less and probuably save some lives as well.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)TheMightyFavog
(13,770 posts)The Big Block of Cheese episode, IIRC?
Mosby
(16,168 posts)Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)But it could stand to be expanded.
I wonder how practical several series of these could be, or even a sort of continuous cover over the highway, with enough gaps for ventilation?
On second thought, we can barely keep our commercial overpasses from falling apart, so... Maybe not.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)At least on highway I commuted on had them up over 20 years ago. Route 78 NJ. I have never read a study on then helping, but it is hilly, so it is easier to do that there, down the beach, it would be petty hard to build on flat sandy area.
Speaking of that, there is an Island going under water with deer, I wonder if they will be moved?
tru
(237 posts)hollysmom
(5,946 posts)erosion is very bad the past few years. it is a bird preserve with deer, rabbits and red foxes. People think I make this up on the island, but the rangers told me they are there and I have seen them when the wander into the populated part walking my dog in the dark. All that will be left in a few years is the part with houses and cars unless they move these animals.
I leave bird seed and unsalted shelled peanuts on my deck and it's amazing the animals I see. This is a residential area with a few vacant overgrown lots, and there are foxes, raccoons, groundhogs, opossums, skunks, rabbits, \etc. Several blocks away, in a more wooded area there are deer and turkeys.
Skip Intro
(19,768 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)It is an infrastructure solution that does not serve to profit some corporation, landowner or developer. It is simply a common good, a moral and human solution. Currently we are being ruled by those who do not believe in that. We have to change the hearts of people and get away from this culture of death to one that loves the living more than money. Thanks for the inspiring post, OneGrassRoot.
fishwax
(29,146 posts)Here's an article about a series of underpasses that helped protect mule deer migratory routes in Wyoming: http://www.thecleanestline.com/2009/02/mule-deer-and-underpasses.html
And here are a couple of wildlife overpasses in Washington and Montana ...
freshwest
(53,661 posts)OneGrassRoot
(22,917 posts)I should find a collection of pics for those as well. Thanks!
OneGrassRoot
(22,917 posts)onestepforward
(3,691 posts)Cool idea, indeed!
DesertRat
(27,995 posts)We have successful wildlife bridges and tunnels along Highway 260 in the Arizona mountains. Here's an underpass for elk:
And a bypass for Bighorn sheep near Hoover Dam:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/02/21/20110221hoover-dam-bridge-bypass-bighorn-sheep.html
freshwest
(53,661 posts)brewens
(13,397 posts)loli phabay
(5,580 posts)Beringia
(4,314 posts)You are simply killing for killing sake.
loli phabay
(5,580 posts)Help reduce the human population, I bet they're tasty, plus less skilled at escaping.
Quixote1818
(28,904 posts)They would save so much money in insurance payouts for people who hit animals. Maybe insurance companies could lead the way on this?
IDemo
(16,926 posts)OneGrassRoot
(22,917 posts)Yes, underpasses would be even more effective.
Arkansas Granny
(31,483 posts)IDemo
(16,926 posts)From 1979 to 2001, cars killed 159 deer in the area of the wildlife underpass about seven per year.
The number killed in that area this migration season: zero.
quaker bill
(8,223 posts)some of the other pictures feature more effective design. Many smaller critters will not traverse an opening in cover that long, because the predators will snag them. The photo of the bridge with trees is an example of a more effective design. Underpasses seem to work well as they afford better cover.
FarPoint
(12,209 posts)The focus being on conservation and preservation of this beautiful land of liberty.
flyingfysh
(1,990 posts)They are on I-78. My wife and I used to drive under them when we would go to visit her mom.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)handmade34
(22,755 posts)and this is what we get from Republicans here in the United States (remarks in 2009 in response to Stimulus money)...
"...(Tom) Coburn also criticized a $3.4 million Florida Department of Transportation project for an "eco-passage" an underground wildlife road crossing for turtles and other wildlife in Lake Jackson, Fla., along U.S. 27.
"Why did the turtle cross the road? To get to the other side of a stimulus project," the Coburn report says.
Josh Boan, the Florida Transportation Department's natural resources manager, said a large number of turtles and other wildlife are killed in the area. In addition to protecting wildlife, he said the project is needed for safety: turtles hit by vehicles can become flying projectiles..."
Snarkoleptic
(5,995 posts)BumRushDaShow
(127,312 posts)Bwaaaahahaha!
OneGrassRoot
(22,917 posts)Your levitating kitty is wiggin' me out, too!
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)Beringia
(4,314 posts)lunatica
(53,410 posts)Overpasses and underpasses save hundreds if not thousands of animals and people from accidents.
And the designs are also elegant.
Edweird
(8,570 posts)Or maybe somebody was clever enough to 'couch' it as human-centric with another intent in mind.