Barrier Impacts–Roadkill

If crossing structures are not large enough, or lack banks or other dry passage, riparian wildlife may choose to cross over the road surface rather than pass through the structure. If physical barriers are present (fencing, Jersey barriers) passage across the roadway may be blocked. Where passage over the road surface is not physically blocked but the road supports high traffic volumes, individual animals are likely to be killed trying to cross the road. For some long-lived species with low reproductive rates such as turtles, roadkill can significantly undermine the viability of populations. When the loss of individual animals would be great enough to threaten populations, it is important that steps be taken to facilitate safe passage with adequately designed structures, perhaps in association with physical barriers that prevent wildlife from trying to cross over the road surface.