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Looking Out for Wildlife on Roads

May 19, 2020 by TLB

We lose so much wildlife to road mortality here in Ontario. Our roads are well paved and well-tended, making great speedways, but often these roads dissect important habitats and migration routes for wildlife. Notably, turtle populations are most threatened and impacted by road mortality (ahead even of other significant issues of habitat loss and the pet trade). This is significant because it can take more than 20 years for a turtle to reach maturity and then another 20 years or more of laying eggs, until one turtle reaches adulthood to replace its parent. Also snakes, our great pest-controllers, are killed on roads and the devastation that roads are causing to these populations, and populations of birds and mammals, remains notable, but yet unqualified.  

You can help by using vision-tactics when driving: When cruising in the highlands, or anywhere for that matter, it is important to look far ahead instead of immediately in front of you, and also to keep your eyes relaxed in order to take in the entire view. This type of “wide- viewing” takes some practice, but allows you to see what is coming from the all directions including from the sides of the roads and also to see both near and far.  Another tip is to look out for certain patterns: when driving through natural areas, take particular notice of where wetlands are found on both sides of the road. These low lying areas where roads dissect wetlands are ideal spots for many mammals including river otters, mink, raccoons, and of course, turtles to cross the road. Time of day also makes a difference to some mammals occupancy on roads; species such as deer are more apt to be out and about in the early evening and porcupines or foxes prefer to move later at night.

In addition to driving with “wide-viewing”, you can also help wildlife by recording what you see on roads and the locations where you see wildlife. Reporting wildlife on roads helps biologists and organization create, facilitate or even install solutions from crossing signs, to road underpasses.  The Land Between and Turtle Guardians have launched a volunteer program specifically for watching for turtles on roads called “Road Researchers” and also have ways to report snakes on roads and other wildlife. You can volunteer as a Turtle Road Researcher here.  Also, you can report your sighting on the Land Between website, or on The Land Between iNaturalist project page

For a great guide to identifying wildlife on roads see our partner, at EcoKare International’s video and new handbook for Citizen Scientists. EcoKare is a leading expert in wildlife underpasses and road permeability.

Watch our Safe Driving Video here

Category: General

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. William Ferguson

    June 10, 2020 at 7:14 pm

    Our weekend pasture farm, home to bobolinks, eastern meadowlarks, barn and tree swallow and 25 other bird varieties is located next to the Beverly Swamp.

    Reply
  2. William Ferguson

    June 10, 2020 at 7:17 pm

    We have garter snakes, green snakes, red bellied snakes, snapping and Blanding turtles infrequently ambling across meadow.

    Reply

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The Land Between is a National Charity #805849916RR0001.
Your support helps us celebrate, conserve, and enhance this important region.

The Land Between
P.O. Box 1368
Haliburton, ON K0M 1S0
705-457-1222
info@thelandbetween.ca

We respectfully acknowledge that The Land Between is located within Williams Treaty 20 Mississauga Anishinaabeg territory and Treaty 61 Robinson-Huron treaty territory, in the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg. The Land Between respectfully acknowledges that these First Nations are the stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters in perpetuity and that they continue to maintain this responsibility to ensure their health and integrity for generations to come.

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