We will acquire both crash and carcass removal data and conduct two types of spatial analyses: The Kernel density analyses and optimal hotspot analyses. We will also identify important wildlife habitat and corridors based on existing data for terrestrial or at least partial terrestrial wild amphibian, reptile, and mammal species. We will also conduct a literature review to identify mitigation strategies that substantially reduce collisions with large wild mammals, especially white-tailed deer, and that reduce direct road mortality and that improve habitat connectivity for the selected state and federally protected or at-risk species. Finally, we will evaluate the selected mitigation strategies for potential implementation in Wisconsin based on road and landscape characteristics (including topography and hydrology), costs-effectiveness, and compile a decision support tool to help the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and other stakeholders select road segments that may require mitigation measures, and to help select appropriate mitigation measures that are likely to substantially address the problems, whether they are rooted in human safety, biological conservation, or both.
The objective of this project is to identify and prioritize road sections in Wisconsin with the highest numbers and concentrations of collisions with large wild mammals. It will also identify Wisconsin road sections where direct road mortality and the barrier effect of roads and traffic can be reduced most for the conservation of state and federally protected or at-risk species.
Benefits: The results of this project allow decision makers to decide if and where mitigation measures will be implemented that would benefit human safety through collision reduction with large wild animals and that would benefit wildlife through reducing unnatural death and providing safe crossing opportunities across roads
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