摘要: |
We monitored desert bighorn sheep via satellite telemetry, remote cameras, and track beds between 2006 and 2007, to evaluate the effectiveness of the 3 design features (underpasses) incorporated to facilitate wildlife movement under State Highway 68 (SR 68) between Kingman and Bullhead City, Arizona. We fitted 25 desert bighorn sheep with GPS radio telemetry collars and tracked movements in proximity to SR 68 for 15 months beginning in November of 2006. To evaluate use of underpasses by all ungulates we installed 5 remote passive infrared triggered cameras at each underpass. We monitored wildlife use at the underpasses for 9,789 camera/days and documented 25 crossing events by desert bighorn sheep (< or = 32 individual crossings). None of the bighorns documented using the underpasses were ewes and no marked ewes crossed SR 68. The majority (88%) of crossings by bighorns occurred at the easternmost underpass (milepost 12.1), which also had the narrowest span and was located in the most rugged terrain. There were 3 crossings by bighorns at the westernmost underpass (milepost 7.8), which had the widest span and was located far from rugged terrain. |