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Noise and Light Pollution

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Artificial noise and light can disturb natural wildlife behavior and potentially reduce wildlife use of crossing structures built to facilitate their crossing over and under state highways and interstates. In this study, we examine the role of artificial noise and light from traffic in wildlife species presence, activity, and willingness to use crossing structures.This research is intended to inform design and construction of crossing structures to enhance wildlife connectivity.
Project Date: 
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Project Status: 
In Progress

Artificial noise and light can disturb natural wildlife behavior and potentially reduce wildlife use of crossing structures built to facilitate their crossing over and under state highways and interstates. In this study, we examine the role of artificial noise and light from traffic in wildlife species presence, activity, and willingness to use crossing structures.This research is intended to inform design and construction of crossing structures to enhance wildlife connectivity. 

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Observation Summary

This is a summary of animal observation across all locations and positions.

Animal Animal Write-in Image Count Animal Count
1 Great Horned Owl 1 1
2 Western Toad 1 1
3 Western Scrub-Jay Bird 1 1
4 Yellow-Pine Chipmunk 1 1
5 Western Fence Lizard 1 1
6 Red-Tailed Hawk 1 1
7 Northern River Otter 1 1
8 Granite Spiny Lizard 2 2
9 Blue Jay 2 2
10 White-Tailed Jackrabbit 2 2
11 Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel 2 2
12 Western Spotted Skunk 2 2
13 Black Rat Rattus sp. 3 3
14 Dark-Eyed Junco 3 3
15 Yellow-Rumped Warbler 4 4
16 European Starling 3 4
17 Acorn Woodpecker 4 4
18 Mourning Dove 4 4
19 Brewer's Blackbird 4 4
20 California Pocket Mouse 4 4
21 California Thrasher 6 6
22 California Towhee 6 6
23 Steller's Jay Bird 7 7
24 Hermit Thrush 8 8
25 Domestic Dog 7 8
26 California Quail 6 12
27 Western Scrub-Jay 14 14
28 Douglas' Squirrel 14 14
29 Black Phoebe 15 15
30 Cow 11 19
31 Steller's Jay 22 24
32 Yellow-Bellied Marmot 25 25
33 Mountain Cottontail 28 28
34 American Robin 29 31
35 Western Gray Squirrel 31 35
36 Turkey Vulture 46 46
37 Striped Skunk 52 52
38 Eastern Gray Squirrel 54 54
39 Allen's Chipmunk 53 54
40 Eastern Fox Squirrel 57 57
41 Mountain Lion 76 86
42 American Crow 84 105
43 Raccoon 99 119
44 Virginia Opossum 126 126
45 Black Bear 137 137
46 Desert Cottontail 147 152
47 Band-Tailed Pigeon 117 188
48 Brush Rabbit 221 221
49 Bobcat 227 231
50 American Marten 223 244
51 Black-Tailed Jackrabbit 236 244
52 Coyote 276 281
53 California Ground Squirrel 307 316
54 Gray Fox 442 443
55 Wild Turkey 255 625
56 Mule (or Black tailed) Deer 968 1,095
57 Human Researcher 856 1,138
58 Human 1,303 1,717