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Alaska Group Mulls Moose Solutions
From The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner:
Crosswalks similar to those used in school zones, complete with flashing lights and a warning that a moose is crossing the road.
Electronic mats built into roads that shock moose if they step on them.
Groomed trails leading to feedlots well off the road.
Those are just some of the techniques the Alaska Moose Federation is promoting to help keep moose off Alaska roads.
As AMF president Gary Olson so eloquently put it, “Everybody loves moose and they taste a lot better when they’re not marinated with anti-freeze.”
So, they propose to put this on how many miles of roadway? Are these guys transplants from Southern California? I guess that Alaska does have a few extra bucks in their coffers to put up and maintain these types of gimmicks. And, yes, I know what can happen when moose meets car ... or even truck. I hope their other proposals are better thought out.
Posted by: Mike | December 29, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Too late now but why wasn't there any thought about running a highway across wild animal crossingd before the high way was built. Animals are creatures of habit and humans are able to reason and adapt.
Posted by: kim | December 29, 2008 at 10:12 PM
I think underpasses beneath highways would be the simplest and most cost effective way to get a mouse across the highway.
Posted by: William | December 30, 2008 at 02:58 AM
Kim:
Building roads involves engineering that highway for safe passage. To incorporate wildlife corridors into the engineering could compromise safety. Also, most of these roads were built long before the concept of wildlife corridors was understood.
YooperJack
Posted by: YooperJack | December 30, 2008 at 10:46 AM
I was surprised to see wildlife crossings spanning some European autobahns. High fenced and naturally landscaped. They are the only places for larger animals to cross, unless one takes a fence down along the roadway. Always wondered if they really work. Smacking any animal at 100+mph would not be pleasant. If I was a wolf, in search of a meal ... would be a natural funnel to hang out with some hungry cohorts.
Posted by: Mike | December 30, 2008 at 05:18 PM