Efficacy of road removal for restoring wildlife habitat: Black bear in the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA
-
Published source details
Switalski T.A. & Nelson C.R. (2011) Efficacy of road removal for restoring wildlife habitat: Black bear in the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA. Biological Conservation, 144, 2666-2673.
Published source details Switalski T.A. & Nelson C.R. (2011) Efficacy of road removal for restoring wildlife habitat: Black bear in the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA. Biological Conservation, 144, 2666-2673.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
| Action | Category | |
|---|---|---|
|
Use signs or access restrictions to reduce disturbance to mammals Action Link |
 |
-
Use signs or access restrictions to reduce disturbance to mammals
A replicated, paired sites, site comparison study in 2006–2009 of a forest in Idaho, USA (Switalski & Nelson 2011) found that removing or closing roads increased use of those areas by black bears Ursus americanus. More bears were detected on former roads that had been removed (4.6 detections/100 camera-trap days) than on paired open roads (0.3). Similarly, there were more on closed than on paired open roads when roads were closed by a barrier (closed: 1.5; open: 0.6 detections/100 camera-trap days) or by a gate (closed: 0.5; open: 0 detections/100 camera-trap days). Eighteen closed roads were paired with open roads. Closed roads included seven removed by reprofiling in the previous 10 years, five closed by barriers and six that were gated. Closed roads were sampled by camera-trapping 1.6 km along from their intersection with the paired open road. Open roads were sampled <100 m along from this intersection. One camera trap was used at each site between 1 April and 30 June and again between 30 August and 3 November, annually in 2006–2009.
(Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)
