Why Did The Moose Cross The Road?

States have pondered why critters cross the road and are spending taxpayer dollars to get them safely to the other side.

Transportation and wildlife departments are designing a series of "critter crossings" — underpasses, overpasses and fences — so that animals aren’t fenced in by roads. The goal is to reduce the harm highways inflict on habitats as suburban sprawl carries roads deeper into forests and wetlands while making roadways safer for humans and animals.

Scientists locate potential crossings in areas where animals are known to travel by identifying migration paths or simply noticing stretches of pavement littered with roadkill. They try to create an opening that looks natural and safe for animals. Jeffrey Collins, an ecologist at the Massachusetts Audubon Society, said animals respond better to shorter and wider tunnels and can take months to become comfortable using underpasses.

By Nick Timiraos

Full Story: http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=96332

UM ‘Critter Crawl’ Invention Earns Patent http://www.matr.net/article-14057.html