Wildlife Underpass Sees Unexpectedly Heavy Traffic

KESQ 3 ^ | 7/5/06

[beyond the sea]

LA HABRA HEIGHTS, Calif. How did the bobcat cross the road? In Puente Hills, it's the same way the coyotes, deer and other animals crossed: through the wildlife underpass beneath Harbor Boulevard.

The one-point-two million dollar underpass was unveiled on June First to give the animals an alternative to dashing across the boulevard.

Researchers say they're surprised that the 20-foot-wide, 160-foot-long tunnel is already well traveled by animals traveling between the Whittier Narrows nature area and the Cleveland National Forest.

Even notoriously skittish deer started using the tunnel just a couple weeks after it was built, without incentives like scents, grains and plants to lure them across.

[beyond the sea]

This is pretty nice!

;-)

[beyond the sea]

going underground ................. ping

[Khurkris]

"If you build it...they will come."

[Past Your Eyes]

That doesn't make scents.

[beyond the sea]

LOL ............ I wish I would have said that.

;-)

Best I can come up with: 'Your Tax Dollars at Work'

Seriously, I think this is a great idea. I heard it on the radio yesterday and was surprised to check this morning and find that no one had posted about this already.

So, this project makes it safer for the drivers and the animals. Good.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I bet it does...and scat, too...

[beyond the sea]

The one-point-two million dollar underpass was unveiled on June First to give the animals an alternative to dashing across the boulevard.

The Coyote Underground

[beyond the sea]

coyote ping

[wita]

So, how long before the cougars, and coyotes, wise up and start requiring a toll?

[Vaquero]

good place to post.

[CalvaryJohn]

I think they tried this in Banff NP and it failed. Of course, the geniuses up there used overpasses.

[beyond the sea]

"overpasses" --- LOL

[Khurkris]

Thanks. I moved from HN amd the OC in 2004 and remember stories about this under construction.

So you were a "Lighting Fast Chicken ..."? I knew a few of them in VN. Some MC Intercepts in Phu Bai (Phu Bai is alll-riiight!) and some others in Thailand...on the "back side of the runway."

Remember any carbon paper 'flame on' games?

[Khurkris]

Make that ..."HB and the OC"...

[riverrunner]

Sounds like a good place to place a couple of leg hold traps during season.

[prisoner6]

BINGO! Exactly what I was thinking. Predator animals will start hanging around waiting for lunch. Hen lets see how many deer use it.

prisoner6

[beyond the sea]

Skunks will never use this underpass .... they're always arguing with each other about crossing the road. They always like to raise a stink.

[stocksthatgoup]

[beyond the sea]

Ouch.

[beyond the sea]

So, how long before the cougars, and coyotes, wise up and start requiring a toll?

Unionization couldn't be too far away.

;-)

[Skooz]

Cool.

I hope this idea catches on.

[Khurkris]

Until they're dead and in the middle of the road.

[beyond the sea]

Cool. I hope this idea catches on.

Me too ........... but it peobably could be done for a little less $$$. But I like this idea.

[Skooz]

In England, they actually built something similar so frogs could cross under the road.

IIRC, some species of frog has a mass migration every year that compelled them to cross a busy road, so the folks in the village built them a small underpass.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

"Why did the chicken use the underpass...?"

[PBRSTREETGANG]

In England, they actually built something similar so frogs could cross under the road.

Probably felt guilty.

[RetroSexual]

[Rte66]

I love the idea and hope it works. "My" very large wild snapping turtles have those big conduits under the bayous that they travel back and forth through, in a similar fashion.

One main question - is there a reason they didn't mention any armadillos using this "Kill-Free Highway"?

[gridlock]

A coyote doesn't need a silly ol' tunnel to cross no road...

[gotribe]

Snare heaven!

[beyond the sea]

In England, they actually built something similar so frogs could cross under the road.

That's great to hear.

****

Why did the frogs cross the road? To get a croak-a-cola.

Ugh!

;-)

[beyond the sea]

Why did the hen go halfway across the road and stop?

She wanted to lay it on the line.

[beyond the sea]

That really is great.

[beyond the sea]

I don't know. It was a very short article.

[beyond the sea]

LOL

[Rte66]

Ah - well, dillos seem to prefer being roadkill, at least in TX - that's the reason I asked.

[ovrtaxt]

Looks like a great place for predators to hang out...

[depenzz]

Quite a while back, Florida was talking about doing this so the Florida Panther, Cougar, Puma (you name it) could cross Alligator Alley.

I believe there were only suppose to be 26 remaining and they wanted to protect them.

I hunted in the Everglades and I haven't figured out to this day how they counted them.

[Puddleglum]

They need these for turtles where I live. Lots of them.

Of course, here in Oklahoma, each one would go over-budget and the poor animals would have to pay about $5.00 a pop. Shells and tails would count as an extra axle, to boot.

[beyond the sea]

I haven't figured out to this day how they counted them.

LOL .......... it's impossible.

[beyond the sea]

Shells and tails would count as an extra axle, to boot.

;-)

[VeniVidiVici]

Ah - well, dillos seem to prefer being roadkill, at least in TX - that's the reason I asked.

Armadillos couldn't use the underpass anyway.

They'd get scared three of four times going thru it and jump and hit the ceiling. They'd be toast by the time they got out.

Reverse roadkill ;-)

[depenzz]

Once the new Rand McNally road maps come out there will be many many more using the tunnels, they run about 2 years behind.

[OldFriend]

NJ built an overpass too. Useless!

[CindyDawg]

I like this. I think it could have been done cheaper though.

[Rte66]

Tee hee, that's *exactly* the scenario I was picturing. Sort of like me, scuba diving in caves. I just won't do it. Spelunkaphobic as I am, I always swim around and over while my dive buddies explore the caves.

I'd be sea-kill from trying to ascend and knocking myself out on the coral stalactites, just like a jumping armadillo in an underpass.

[libstripper]

LOL. You must have seen the original "Muppet Movie" where the villain had captured Kermit and was telling Kermit about his evil plan to establish a nationwide chain of frog leg restaurants. Kermit got a sick look on his face and said, "Imagine, thousands of tiny wheelchairs."

[SoothingDave]

Just like going to Kennywood.

SD

[martin_fierro]

L O L

[Robert A. Cook, PE]

Careful: yes, it's a nice idea. At a high cost in dollars for animals who DON'T pay taxes.


You must decide whether this is a valid use for tax money.