Send us your best whitetail stuff (and don't forget to attach pictures!)
Russell Graves - Believes whitetails shouldn't be photographed in the back of a truck with their tongue hanging out.
Location - Texas
Brian Strickland - Has 369,518 acres of land that you can hunt on. Call him at (555) 281-HUNT.
Location - Colorado
Tony Hansen - Is pretty confident Michigan will release at least 300,000 archers into the woods this fall.
Location - Michigan
Jake Fagan - He's really just here to hang out, so don't mind him.
Location - Georgia
Will Brantley - Loves hunting in a dorag because it makes him look Ramboish. Some may call it Little Man Syndrome.
Location - Tennessee
Friday, February 6, 2009
Learning from Students Part 5
-Russell
The Effects of Land Use on Road-Killed Wildlife
Along a rural 10 mile stretch of highway 83, we conducted a study to show what
effect land use has on road kill.
Road killed animals cause American drivers millions of dollars in insurance
claims every year. Before we analyzed our data we hypothesized that land type and use
would have little effect on road kill.
Over a four month period, from the beginning of fall in September to the end of fall in
November, a rural, ten mile stretch of highway 83 was driven on a daily basis and our
data was collected
When collecting the information, the first step taken was to record the data,
temperature, cloud coverage, and moon phase. Highway 83 was driven on at 2:15 every
day looking for any kind of road kill. The time was selected at random.
As we approached the end of our study, we concluded that land-use type does have an
effect on road kill. Most of the animals were killed while the driver was crossing a low
point on the surveyed highway during night time hours. The amount of cloud coverage,
moon phase, and weather didn’t provide anything in our study.
Overall, this research helped us understand the impact that land-use and road
elevation has on wildlife and motorist. In the future if road designers would take in
consideration, our research then roads could be design that could lessen impact on
motorists as well as wildlife.
Conclusion
As we approached the end of our study, we concluded that land-use type does
have an effect on road kill. Most of the animals were killed while the driver was crossing
a low point on the surveyed highway during night time hours. The amount of cloud
coverage, moon phase, and weather proved nothing in our study.
Overall, this research helped us understand the impact that land-use and road
elevation has on wildlife and motorist. In the future if road designers would take in
consideration, our research then roads could be design that could lessen impact on
motorists as well as wildlife.
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