Wildlife friendly roads on Arizona drawing board

A bull elk typically weighs 600 to 800 pounds and can weigh as much as 1,200 pounds, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Nine elk were recently hit simultaneously near the Schnebly Hill turnoff on Interstate 17.

The Associated Press

5/1/2008

PHOENIX — Arizona road planners are working to add features to the state’s highways to make them less lethal to wildlife.

State transportation officials are designing new overpasses and underpasses that move animals across traffic corridors and away from cars and trucks. Animals at risk include mule deer, elk and desert tortoises.

On a highway east of Payson, a warning light connected to a sensor system tells drivers that animals may be crossing ahead.

Building animal-friendly roads has become a new branch of science, said biologist Bruce Eilerts, program manager of the Office of Environmental Services at the state Department of Transportation.

“It’s just something that happened out of necessity.”

Arizona’s rapidly expanding population has created more demand for new roads across the state.

At times, it has brought cars and trucks together with elk and deer. A bull elk typically weighs 600 to 800 pounds and can weigh as much as 1,200 pounds, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Nine elk were recently hit simultaneously near the Schnebly Hill turnoff on Interstate 17, ADOT said.

Animal-caused crashes in Arizona totaled 1,398 in 2006, according to the state Motor Vehicle Division. Two people were killed and 276 injured.

Matt Clark, southwestern representative for Defenders of Wildlife, based in Tucson, said planners are playing catch-up in developing wildlife-friendly roads.

“The unfortunate truth is early planners weren’t thinking about wildlife,” he said. “We know more about them today, their requirements for survival. With knowledge comes responsibility.”