Evaluation of a wildlife underpass on Vermont State Highway 289 in Essex, Vermont
-
Published source details
Austin J.M. & Garland L. (2001) Evaluation of a wildlife underpass on Vermont State Highway 289 in Essex, Vermont. Proceedings of the 2001 International Conference on Ecology and Transportation, Center for Transportation and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC, USA, 616-624.
Published source details Austin J.M. & Garland L. (2001) Evaluation of a wildlife underpass on Vermont State Highway 289 in Essex, Vermont. Proceedings of the 2001 International Conference on Ecology and Transportation, Center for Transportation and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC, USA, 616-624.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
| Action | Category | |
|---|---|---|
|
Install tunnels/culverts/underpass under roads Action Link |
 |
-
Install tunnels/culverts/underpass under roads
A study in 2000 along a highway in Vermont, USA (Austin & Garland 2001) found that a concrete underpass was used by four mammal species to cross the road. Infra-red monitors recorded 190 confirmed or unconfirmed instances of animals using the tunnel. Where a species was identified, 58% of occurrences were racoon Procyon lotor, 27% were mink Neovison vison, 11% were weasel Mustela frenata and 4% were skunk Mephitis mephitis. The total number of passages by these species was not stated. The underpass was a concrete block structure, split along the middle by a concrete support. It was 97 m long, 3 m wide and 4 m high. A stream flowed through one tunnel and, at times of high water, through both tunnels, though a sloping floor ensured at least some dry passage. The underpass was monitored discontinuously from June–November 2000, using infrared monitors, cameras and footprint pads.
(Summarised by: Emily Hardgrove )
)_2023.JPG)
