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How Does A Critter Cross The Road?

YOSEMITE – Yosemite Conservancy has implemented a pilot project that they believe will set the precedent for future wildlife crossing structure work in Yosemite National Park.

Drainages and culverts act as wildlife movement corridors throughout the park. Along Wawona Road, camera monitors have detected 17 species — from black bear and gray fox to a small owl — using them to cross underneath the road.

Designing culverts for wildlife useThis fall, two existing culverts along Wawona Road will be modified with shelf-style wildlife crossing structures. We hope that camera monitors installed in the crossing will document Pacific fishers taking advantage of the new path.

Fishers are currently a candidate for listing under the Federal Endangered Species Act and there is a small population living along Wawona Road.

Since 2008, six have been killed by vehicles primarily during the spring fisher denning season when snow melt fills culverts with water, forcing the fishers onto the road.

Pacific fisher uses culvert in YosemitePark scientists are hopeful the new shelf structures will help keep smaller animals — including the Pacific fisher — safely off the roadway.

Every year Yosemite Conservancy provides grants to Yosemite National Park based on the highest priority needs. These projects include trail repair, wildlife management, visitors services and more. Donations are gratefully accepted.

2 comments

  1. The story on “How does a critter cross the road?” that was produced by Yosemite/Yosemite Conservancy is incorrect and factually misleading in many ways. The research with cameras focused on culverts that was reported on was not done anywhere within Yosemite NP, or by staff or biologists associated with Yosemite NP. The research on the what is known as “The Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Study/Sierra National Forest Culvert Project” (using automatic cameras focused on culverts where 17 species were detected using culverts to pass beneath the road) was completed entirely within the Sierra National Forest along Highway 41 (not the Wawona Road in Yosemite NP) between Cedar Valley and Fish Camp by a team of researchers from the Bass Lake District of the Sierra National Forest (contact Anae Otto for verification) and the Center for Natural Resources at the University of California Berkeley.

  2. Is there anything the government says that we can believe? I made my previous comment based on the belief that I was being told the truth. I think citizens can only feel foolish for so long before we rebel and believe nothing agents of our government tell us. Then what?

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