Infrared video-monitoring of mammals at a fauna underpass

Published source details Mathiasen R. & Madsen A.B. (2000) Infrared video-monitoring of mammals at a fauna underpass. International Journal of Mammalian Biology, 65, 59-61.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Install barrier fencing and underpasses along roads Action Link

Install barrier fencing and underpasses along roads

A study in 1997 along a highway in Jutland, Denmark (Mathiasen & Madsen 2000) found that an underpass, in an area with roadside barrier fencing, was used by four mammal species. These were red fox Vulpes vulpes (122 observations, 161 tracks), badger Meles meles (16 observations, 22 tracks), stone marten Martes foina (18 observations, 41 tracks) and roe deer Capreolus capreolus (20 observations, 41 tracks). The roe deer records were all accounted for by a single male, with other animals present in the area not using the underpass. Three brown hares Lepus europeaus were observed entering the underpass, but all turned around and did not pass through. The entrance of a tunnel underpass (13 m wide, 7.5 m high, 155 m long) was monitored using a video camera and two infra-red lamps for 30 days in April–May and in August–September 1997 (total 495 hours). Tracks in sand at either end of the stream through the underpass were recorded daily. There was 1.8-m-high fencing both sides of the highway, for 1 km in each direction from the underpass.

(Summarised by: Rebecca K. Smith)