News

The 2025 annual report describes our research, education and outreach activities. This is the brief version, the individual research descriptions can be available upon request. Click here to access the report: https://roadecology.ucdavis.edu/resources/rec-2025-annual-report 

There is a variety of definitions of this term, but for most in the field, the following captures what we do: Road ecology is the scientific study of the impacts of roads, road systems, and traffic on: 1) air, water, and soil pollution; 2) barrier and mortality impacts to wildlife (plants and animals) movement; 3) traffic noise and light emissions to nearby human and wildlife habitats; 4) changes to natural geomorphic and hydrologic attributes and processes; 5) invasion of non-native and damaging species and extraction activities; and 6) other modifications of ecosystem attributes and proce

For those who missed the planned connectivity conference in 2024, we are bringing it back in 2026. We had to postpone because of restrictions on state agency travel and we wanted them there. We are holding it in 2026 to fall between the 2025 and 2027 ICOET conferences, which we also organize (https://icoet.net) and which are also mostly about connectivity and wildlife crossings. So, see you in 2026 or even sooner at the 2025 ICOET.

This story in Napa County highlights an issue facing all flattish shorelines around the world -- what to do as the ocean reclaims the land. From flood walls to managed flooding and semi-aquatic neighborhoods, there are many proposals on how to respond.

Bad News:  Well it’s hard to know exactly where the current tumult at the federal level will leave us, but so far it doesn't look great. Readers who are fans of the current president may feel like the chaos is a worthwhile price to get other things accomplished. Others may be already experiencing direct impacts to employment (federal employees and beyond), quality of life (our friends in LGBTQ+ communities), reproductive health and family choice, disease exposure (avian flu, measles, etc.) and general sense of well-being.

Brazil is home to many species of monkeys, with most relying on forested areas as habitat. Where roads cut through these forests, monkeys traversing the roads are at risk of getting hit by vehicles. Smithsonian's Fernanda Abra is using canopy bridges to help them across the road. Go to this link for more: https://www.cnn.com/world/americas/brazil-fernanda-abra-canopy-bridges-…

In this 2022 report, Club of Rome member Gaya Herrington re-analyzes the "limits to growth" model from 1972 and finds that the conclusions have not fundamentally changed: we are on a precarious peak of production and consumption that leaves us with a binary choice for the future. If we want our youth and future generations to inherit a livable world, we will need to fundamentally change our production and consumption practices. As Herrington says: "But growth can no longer be humanity’s ultimate goal.

This presentation was given to a small group in Canada, but has global significance. Road Ecology Center collaborator Dr. Travis Longcore (UCLA) gives a very accessible breakdown of how light impacts animals of all kinds and some of what we can do about it. Click here to access the full hour-long talk: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_-7qfdxWpx92uKEeENGWS5wKSHJI2S-8/view?…

The Road Ecology Center is looking for a researcher to help with our various projects. The position covers data collection and analysis, field and/or computational work, writing reports and publications, and working with diverse organizations.  Lots of opportunities for diverse work experience and professional advancement.