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Stretch dangerous to wildlife
Agencies employ strategies to stem Ariz. 260 crashes
Jun. 19, 2003
Arizona Republic
Arizona Game & Fish Dept.
Everybody knows why the chicken crossed the road.
Unfortunately, a lot of elk are crossing for the same reason, and it's leading to a staggering number of wildlife-vehicle accidents up and down a 17-mile stretch of Arizona 260 from east of Payson, in Star Valley, to the Mogollon Rim.
Since August 2000, 83 forms have been submitted for wildlife-vehicle collisions along Arizona 260. Hotspots include the following highway sections: Christopher Creek (27 forms), Preacher Canyon (24), Lion Springs (14) and Kohls Ranch (13).
Ten forms have been filed in 2003.
"It's a dangerous highway - a gauntlet," said Ray Schweinsburg, research program supervisor for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
"What we're trying to do, along with the Arizona Department of Transportation and U.S. Forest Service, is make highways safe, both for people and wildlife. That's the bottom line."
In addition to upgrading the narrow, two-lane highway to a four-lane divided highway, ADOT is using several designs to keep wildlife - particularly elk - off one of the state's busiest roads. Some measures include a dozen sets of bridged wildlife underpasses, five sets of larger bridges, wildlife-proof fencing, escape ramps and one-way gates.
Meanwhile, Game and Fish is continuing to assess the effectiveness of the underpasses and other measures by using sensor-controlled video cameras.
The department also has trapped and fitted 30 elk with global positioning system (GPS) receiver collars to better determine daily movements, concentration areas and where the animals cross the highway.
"What we have found, in fact, is the elk will use them (underpasses)," he said. "As time goes on, they seem to be learning to use them more and more."
Agencies employ strategies to stem Ariz. 260 crashes
Jun. 19, 2003
Arizona Republic
Arizona Game & Fish Dept.
Everybody knows why the chicken crossed the road.
Unfortunately, a lot of elk are crossing for the same reason, and it's leading to a staggering number of wildlife-vehicle accidents up and down a 17-mile stretch of Arizona 260 from east of Payson, in Star Valley, to the Mogollon Rim.
Since August 2000, 83 forms have been submitted for wildlife-vehicle collisions along Arizona 260. Hotspots include the following highway sections: Christopher Creek (27 forms), Preacher Canyon (24), Lion Springs (14) and Kohls Ranch (13).
Ten forms have been filed in 2003.
"It's a dangerous highway - a gauntlet," said Ray Schweinsburg, research program supervisor for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
"What we're trying to do, along with the Arizona Department of Transportation and U.S. Forest Service, is make highways safe, both for people and wildlife. That's the bottom line."
In addition to upgrading the narrow, two-lane highway to a four-lane divided highway, ADOT is using several designs to keep wildlife - particularly elk - off one of the state's busiest roads. Some measures include a dozen sets of bridged wildlife underpasses, five sets of larger bridges, wildlife-proof fencing, escape ramps and one-way gates.
Meanwhile, Game and Fish is continuing to assess the effectiveness of the underpasses and other measures by using sensor-controlled video cameras.
The department also has trapped and fitted 30 elk with global positioning system (GPS) receiver collars to better determine daily movements, concentration areas and where the animals cross the highway.
"What we have found, in fact, is the elk will use them (underpasses)," he said. "As time goes on, they seem to be learning to use them more and more."
