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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 Northern River Otter 1 1
2 Great Horned Owl 1 1
3 Yellow-Pine Chipmunk 1 1
4 Western Toad 1 1
5 Western Fence Lizard 1 1
6 Western Scrub-Jay Bird 1 1
7 Red-Tailed Hawk 1 1
8 Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel 2 2
9 Blue Jay 2 2
10 Granite Spiny Lizard 2 2
11 Long-Tailed Weasel 2 2
12 White-Tailed Jackrabbit 2 2
13 Western Spotted Skunk 3 3
14 Dark-Eyed Junco 3 3
15 Black Rat Rattus sp. 3 3
16 Brewer's Blackbird 4 4
17 Mourning Dove 4 4
18 California Pocket Mouse 4 4
19 Acorn Woodpecker 4 4
20 European Starling 3 4
21 Yellow-Rumped Warbler 4 4
22 California Towhee 6 6
23 California Thrasher 6 6
24 Steller's Jay Bird 7 7
25 Hermit Thrush 8 8
26 Domestic Dog 7 8
27 California Quail 6 12
28 Douglas' Squirrel 14 14
29 Western Scrub-Jay 14 14
30 Black Phoebe 15 15
31 Cow 11 19
32 Steller's Jay 22 24
33 Yellow-Bellied Marmot 25 25
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 Cottontail 75 75
42 Mountain Lion 76 86
43 American Crow 84 105
44 Raccoon 99 119
45 Virginia Opossum 128 128
46 Black Bear 137 137
47 Desert Cottontail 147 152
48 Band-Tailed Pigeon 117 188
49 Brush Rabbit 221 221
50 American Marten 223 244
51 Black-Tailed Jackrabbit 236 244
52 Coyote 294 299
53 California Ground Squirrel 307 316
54 Bobcat 331 335
55 Wild Turkey 255 625
56 Gray Fox 634 635
57 Mule (or Black tailed) Deer 969 1,096
58 Human Researcher 876 1,160
59 Human 2,876 3,437