A comparison of elk‐vehicle collision patterns with demographic and abundance data in the Central Canadian Rocky Mountains
Abstract Wildlife‐vehicle collisions are a widespread phenomenon that are influenced by species behavior, abundance, and road and landscape interactions. The mortality rate of different age and sex classes can buffer or exacerbate how the population responds to vehicle collisions. We evaluated the d...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Conservation Science and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12842 |
| _version_ | 1811208417788821504 |
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| author | Kari Elizabeth Gunson Anthony Paul Clevenger Adam Thomas Ford |
| author_facet | Kari Elizabeth Gunson Anthony Paul Clevenger Adam Thomas Ford |
| author_sort | Kari Elizabeth Gunson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Wildlife‐vehicle collisions are a widespread phenomenon that are influenced by species behavior, abundance, and road and landscape interactions. The mortality rate of different age and sex classes can buffer or exacerbate how the population responds to vehicle collisions. We evaluated the demographic‐specific patterns of elk‐vehicle collisions in the Central Canadian Rocky Mountains. More females and adults were involved in collisions, but when compared to the sex and age of the population, males and subadults were more prone to collisions in the fall. The fat marrow content (condition) of elk was greater for road‐ and rail‐kill than predator‐killed elk indicating that vehicle collisions are an additive source of mortality. As traffic volumes increased elk collisions decreased because elk declined over the study period. Evaluation of long‐term datasets can assist in designing mitigation that target the most vulnerable demographics of a population. For example, larger more open wildlife crossing structures have shown to be more suitable for vulnerable demographics such as female grizzly bears, male ungulates, and female ungulates traveling with young. When crossing structures are not practical, demographic‐specific information can inform outreach and awareness programs that strive to elicit a favorable response from motorists ultimately avoiding collisions with animals on roads. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:20:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2f0f5c74edec4b20b032d3bcc82c6810 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2578-4854 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:20:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation Science and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-2f0f5c74edec4b20b032d3bcc82c68102022-12-22T03:48:14ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542022-12-01412n/an/a10.1111/csp2.12842A comparison of elk‐vehicle collision patterns with demographic and abundance data in the Central Canadian Rocky MountainsKari Elizabeth Gunson0Anthony Paul Clevenger1Adam Thomas Ford2Eco‐Kare International Peterborough Ontario CanadaWestern Transportation Institute Bozeman MT USAThe University of British Columbia Vancouver BC CanadaAbstract Wildlife‐vehicle collisions are a widespread phenomenon that are influenced by species behavior, abundance, and road and landscape interactions. The mortality rate of different age and sex classes can buffer or exacerbate how the population responds to vehicle collisions. We evaluated the demographic‐specific patterns of elk‐vehicle collisions in the Central Canadian Rocky Mountains. More females and adults were involved in collisions, but when compared to the sex and age of the population, males and subadults were more prone to collisions in the fall. The fat marrow content (condition) of elk was greater for road‐ and rail‐kill than predator‐killed elk indicating that vehicle collisions are an additive source of mortality. As traffic volumes increased elk collisions decreased because elk declined over the study period. Evaluation of long‐term datasets can assist in designing mitigation that target the most vulnerable demographics of a population. For example, larger more open wildlife crossing structures have shown to be more suitable for vulnerable demographics such as female grizzly bears, male ungulates, and female ungulates traveling with young. When crossing structures are not practical, demographic‐specific information can inform outreach and awareness programs that strive to elicit a favorable response from motorists ultimately avoiding collisions with animals on roads.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12842abundanceageconditiondemographicelk‐vehicle collisionsRocky Mountains |
| spellingShingle | Kari Elizabeth Gunson Anthony Paul Clevenger Adam Thomas Ford A comparison of elk‐vehicle collision patterns with demographic and abundance data in the Central Canadian Rocky Mountains Conservation Science and Practice abundance age condition demographic elk‐vehicle collisions Rocky Mountains |
| title | A comparison of elk‐vehicle collision patterns with demographic and abundance data in the Central Canadian Rocky Mountains |
| title_full | A comparison of elk‐vehicle collision patterns with demographic and abundance data in the Central Canadian Rocky Mountains |
| title_fullStr | A comparison of elk‐vehicle collision patterns with demographic and abundance data in the Central Canadian Rocky Mountains |
| title_full_unstemmed | A comparison of elk‐vehicle collision patterns with demographic and abundance data in the Central Canadian Rocky Mountains |
| title_short | A comparison of elk‐vehicle collision patterns with demographic and abundance data in the Central Canadian Rocky Mountains |
| title_sort | comparison of elk vehicle collision patterns with demographic and abundance data in the central canadian rocky mountains |
| topic | abundance age condition demographic elk‐vehicle collisions Rocky Mountains |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12842 |
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