Efficacy of road underpasses for minimizing bear-vehicle collisions on the 4-lane section of Georgia highway 96 - phase I : final report.
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2016-10-01
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Edition:Final report
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Abstract:The Central Georgia Bear Population, the smallest of Georgia’s three populations of American black bear (Ursus americanus), is of special concern due to its size and potential isolation from other bear populations. Plans to widen Georgia State Route 96 (SR 96), which bisects the Central Georgia Bear population, has potential to negatively impact the population. Highway underpasses are being planned to mitigate these impacts. During 2012-2014, the authors used global-positioning-system (GPS)-tracking and remote, infrared trail cameras to document bear crossings along SR 96. The authors evaluated landscape characteristics associated with 212 (210 by GPS-collared bears plus two photographs) crossings using a resource selection function approach and generalized linear mixed models. Distance between SR 96 and forest edge was positively associated with bear crossings. Bear crossings were generally concentrated with 169 (79.7%) crossings generated by seven bears occurring within a 3-km segment of SR 96. Based on their research results and evaluation of habitat features, the authors recommended placing underpasses in these locations and eliminating two underpasses that had been planned at locations along SR 96 that either received very little use by our GPS-collared bears or had less suitable habitat for bears. The authors also recommended eliminating the proposed fencing design alongside the roadway because it was not likely to decrease the potential of bears accessing the roadway. Furthermore, the fencing had the potential for allowing bears to become “entrapped” within the highway right-of-way, which might increase the chance of a bear-vehicle collision if a bear was unable to easily escape the roadway because of the fencing. Rather than fencing, the authors recommended that vegetation management be used to connect underpass openings to forest edges along the highway rights-of-way. Georgia Department of Transportation adopted the authors' recommendations and saved $1.18 million on the future construction costs for this project.
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