Impact of Road Fencing on Ungulate–Vehicle Collisions and Hotspot Patterns

Kučas, Andrius; Balčiauskas, Linas

doi:10.3390/land10040338

Cited by 12 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…There is no research on the impact of a new fenced motorway on badger mortality on existing roads in the same road network. The analyses of the impact of fence construction on the existing roads indicate that they influence the increase of animal mortality on the adjacent roads with lower traffic flow (Kučas and Balčiauskas 2021 ). Our research results point out that opening a new, fenced motorway increases badger mortality on local roads instead of lowering it.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mitigation measures have different effectiveness, the highest being road fencing (Rytwinski et al 2016). Economical factor has a significant meaning in this situation and road fencing is the most effective in preventing from collisions in case of main roads characterized by the highest traffic intensity (Kučas and Balčiauskas 2021). In Poland, all newly built motorways and expressways are fenced and have different types of wildlife passages (e.g., Mysłajek et al 2020;Ważna et al 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Long Arm of Motorway—The Impact of Fenced Road on the Mortality of European Badgers

Nowakowski

Ważna

Kurek

et al. 2021

Environmental Management

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We studied the impact of the new fenced and accident-safe motorway on the mortality of European badgers Meles meles on local roads in western Poland in 2010–2015. We monitored the badgers mortality on local roads of three categories: main roads, secondary roads and county roads. The study was conducted before and after the opening of the motorway in 2012. We hypothesized that the mortality of badgers is lower due to traffic concentration on motorway. Ninety two badgers were killed in collisions with vehicles on all monitored roads. Mean number of killed badgers was lowest in 2010 before the motorway opening and the highest in 2012. The mortality of badgers on regional roads was highest after the opening of the motorway due to the changes in traffic on the access roads. Within the road network, the mortality of badgers was 5.8 individuals/10 km of road per whole study period with the highest rate on main roads 8.5 individuals/10 km. The badgers mortality was highest on county roads but it was lower than expected in relation to the road network density. The highest vehicle collision risk for badgers of both sexes occurred in June. Distance to human settlements was the only environmental factor that was positively related to badger mortality on roads. We conclude that the new motorway did not reduce the mortality rate of badgers on the adjacent roads because the status of local roads has changed and now they mainly function as access roads to the motorway.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long Arm of Motorway—The Impact of Fenced Road on the Mortality of European Badgers

Nowakowski

Ważna

Kurek

et al. 2021

Environmental Management

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“…To mitigate mammal-vehicle collisions (MVCs), fencing, underpasses, gates, and jump-out ramps are used as the most common mitigation measures in the country [8]. Additional road safety infrastructure elements such as repellents, reflectors, noise, and natural predators can also be used; these focus on a single and/or multiple wildlife species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, we selected Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) [49,52] multi-criteria spatial decision support techniques for the ranking of habitats. The habitat ranking outcomes can be considered reliable if both methods generate similar ranking results [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wildlife-vehicle collisions, as well as environmental factors that affect collisions and mitigation measures, are usually modelled and analysed at the level of the roads themselves [7,8,[53][54][55][56], while the wider issues of adjacent habitat attractiveness to wildlife and its risk to drivers remain underestimated. MVCs with wild species accounted for about 91% of all WVCs in Lithuania in 2002-2017 [57].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Roadkill-Data-Based Identification and Ranking of Mammal Habitats

Kučas

Balčiauskas

2021

Land

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Wildlife–vehicle collisions, as well as environmental factors that affect collisions and mitigation measures, are usually modelled and analysed in the vicinity of or within roads, while habitat attractiveness to wildlife along with risk to drivers remain mostly underestimated. The main goal of this study was the identification, characterisation, and ranking of mammalian habitats in Lithuania in relation to 2002–2017 roadkill data. We identified habitat patches as areas (varying from 1 to 1488 square kilometres) isolated by neighbouring roads characterised by at least one wildlife–vehicle collision hotspot. We ranked all identified habitats on the basis of land cover, the presence of an ecological corridor, a mammalian pathway, and roadkill hotspot data. A ranking scenario describing both habitat attractiveness to wildlife and the risk to drivers was defined and applied. Ranks for each habitat were calculated using multiple criteria spatial decision support techniques. Multiple regression analyses were used to identify the relationship between habitat ranks, species richness, and land cover classes. Strong relationships were identified and are discussed between the habitat patch ranks in five (out of 28) land cover classes and in eight (out of 28) species (97% of all mammal road kills). We conclude that, along with conventional roadkill hotspot identification, roadkill-based habitat identification and characterisation as well as species richness analysis should be used in road safety infrastructure planning.

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Wildlife fencing at German highways and federal roads – requirements and management implications

Brieger,

Strein

2024

Wildlife Biology

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In Germany, the high risk of wildlife–vehicle collisions (WVC) is further increasing due to increasing traffic volumes and road densities as well as the growing population densities of common ungulate species. As a result, threats to human health and property as well as wildlife mortality of widely spread and rare species increase. Currently, three basic types of wildlife fences are used in Germany: type A, a conventional galvanized‐high tensile deer fence (made of knot braid); type B, a chain wire (mesh wire) fence; type C, a rigid welded wire mesh fence panels. Since fencing needs to restrict access of many different species with different behaviours (e.g. jumping, climbing, digging), fencing needs to be multifaceted to be effectively. Furthermore, the occurrence of wildlife species with habits such as jumping, climbing or digging determines the optimal (functional) fence design per location. We surveyed road managers in combination with a personal assessment of road sections in Germany and derived the following recommendations for optimal fencing to reduce WVC: 1) To deter digging, use plates made of recycled synthetic materials or a concrete foundation, instead of barbed wire. 2) Fencing should be made of chain wire (mesh wire, type B) fence or rigid welded wire mesh fence panels (type C) instead of knot braid mesh (type A). 3) To restrict climbing, use angled chain wire fence or rigid welded wire mesh fence panels at the top of the fences. 4) Maintain fences so that they are kept free from ingrown vegetation/woods. Maintenance conditions should be considered while planning and building the fence, especially to ensure sufficient space on both sides for accessibility. 5) Fencing should be established preferably near the roadside and moved away from property lines. In conclusion, wildlife fencing could be a very effective mitigation measure to prevent WVC with common as well as protected species, when proper designed and recommendations of the survey will be consequently considered. Currently many wildlife fences lack functionality due to an inappropriate design and maintenance issues in Germany.

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Impact of Road Fencing on Ungulate–Vehicle Collisions and Hotspot Patterns

Cited by 12 publications

References 68 publications

Long Arm of Motorway—The Impact of Fenced Road on the Mortality of European Badgers

Long Arm of Motorway—The Impact of Fenced Road on the Mortality of European Badgers

Roadkill-Data-Based Identification and Ranking of Mammal Habitats

Wildlife fencing at German highways and federal roads – requirements and management implications

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