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"Linkage" models are usually developed based on human assumptions about wildlife response to disturbance, and assume perfect knowledge of landscapes by wildlife.  They also result in idealized "linkages" or similar emphasis areas for connectivity conservation.  They are rarely developed based on occurrence or movement information for multiple species, or validated using wildlife occurrence or movement data. In this paper we evaluated 4 connectivity models at the California extent (424,000 km2) and one at a quarter of that extent (Mojave desert).

Visiting scientist Rafael Barrientos and various colleagues found that horizon and nearby light were very influential in determining mountain lion habitat selection. 

See the article here: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2022.0370. If you cannot access the article, email the REC for a PDF.

This is the eighth annual roadkill hotspots report from the Road Ecology Center, UC Davis. The report is available here: https://roadecology.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk8611/files/files/CROS-CHIPs_Hotspots_2023_Fin_0.pdf

World Car-Free Day on 22 September a great opportunity to reduce air pollution (unep.org)

This manual (translated to English from French) provides the latest from the French MoT's research arm -- CEREMA.

https://www.cerema.fr/fr/centre-ressources/boutique/fauna-passages

Hi Road Ecology Center friends. What a wonderful Spring its turning out to be. This is a quick message to wish you a belated Ostara and an early Easter. 

In this recent news special from San Diego, the traffic impact facing mountain lions (Puma concolor) in both urbanized and rural areas is highlighted. With incredible footage from REC colleague Dr. Winston Vickers (UC Davis Vet-Med), the various threats and possible solutions are described, especially important with the advent of new funding from the Wildlife Conservation Board.

Our high school interns continue to forge new terrain for Transportation Ecology and in the process are winning prestigious prizes, competitions and placements. Here are some wins from the last 3 months:

Vedant Srinivas (Seattle-area High School Junior)

These maps are courtesy Road Ecology Center (REC). Data are from REC, CDFW, and Winston Vickers (UCD). Click to see the full report: https://roadecology.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk8611/files/files/ML_Special_212023.pdf

Just in case you were not able to buy a 2023 wall calendar in 2022, USACE has your back. The careful crew at the Corps started with a feasibility study in 2014, worked through many closed door meetings and just as 2022 was closing out released this perfectly engineered opus to .... cats! Using the finest HEC-RATS models and advanced computer mice, they made the best dam calendar for 2023 that we have seen. Its cheep too (free), click below to access.

Anthropogenic noise is a widespread and persistent disturbance of wildlife in areas adjacent to urban areas and near roads. If traffic noise inhibits wildlife from approaching wildlife crossings, they may be less useful to all wildlife, and unusable to certain more sensitive species. We investigated traffic noise impacts on wildlife behavior near crossing structures and found species and temporal variations. If widespread, these could reduce the effectiveness of wildlife crossing structures.

Pacific Newts die by the thousands every year on one road in California, Alma Bridge Rd. More and more news is accumulating on this stunning rate or roadkill, this latest is from a UCSC news site.

https://ucscsciencenotes.com/feature/the-peril-of-alma-bridge-road/ 

Here is a squirrel checking out the sign to make sure its going the right way. The bridge was built for <$100 across a busy residential road, between two trees. DIY wildlife crossings can work!

A graduate student in economics at Washington State University, Pullman measured the benefits of 13 wildlife crossings in Washington state. He found that they benefited the public in terms of reduced collisions with wildlife, saving money and lives. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-08-31/wildlife-crossings-over-highways-save-human-lives-too.