***THIS IS AN ARTICLE FROM THE MTO WEBSITE - LINK BELOW***
Turtle Crossing and Barriers
The turtle crossing uses an elliptical culvert.
Anti-glare mesh/screen is used as a turtle barrier/fence to restrict turtle movement onto the roadway.
An artificial turtle nesting habitat made of fine crushed stone, sand, and gravel.
Turtle Crossing: Similar to a pipe culvert design for fish crossings (below), the turtle crossing uses an elliptical culvert. The top ends of the culvert have been cut to maximize the amount of light in the culvert, helping to attract wildlife through the culvert. A mesh screen is attached around the area of the culvert opening to prevent turtles from climbing onto the roadway.
Turtle Barrier/Fence: Studies have shown that turtles can climb fences. Anti-glare mesh/screen is used as a turtle barrier/fence to restrict turtle movement onto the roadway. The turtle fence is affixed directly onto the highway fence, and funnels/directs the turtles to the culvert installed underneath the highway. At the North Credit River Bridge, a total of 1028 m of turtle fence was installed. Though the fence is 1 m high, it features a 200 mm 90 degree bend on top that will prevent turtles from climbing and accessing the right-of-way.
Turtle Nesting Habitat: In addition to mitigating the loss of turtles on the highway, MTO and MNR have developed an artificial turtle nesting habitat made of fine crushed stone, sand, and gravel. The habitat was constructed at the ends of the turtle crossing to provide an area for turtle egg laying. This habitat attracts turtles to the crossing due to it's exposure to the sun.
To evaluate the turtle crossing system, a monitoring program will begin in the spring of 2011. Monitoring will continue for the next two years.
For more information on Turtle Crossings, please contact: Luis Orantes, Environmental Planner, Planning & Environment Office, Central Region at (416) 235-3852 or luis.orantes@ontario.ca
Original article found here: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/transtek/roadtalk/rt16-4/index.shtml
P.S. Check out my latest "urban wild" nature blog: Wild. Here. (2016 update)
Golf courses could offer nesting habitat for turtles - and they don't tear up the green (like some mammals).
ReplyDelete"Vegetation at sites in the turtle’s immediate habitat around the pond was different from those at their nesting sites. The turtles had a greater preference for landscaped sites - mulch cover and mowed rough grass – and mowed grass instead of the golf green and bare ground such as sidewalks, pavement, and sandpits. Surprisingly, there was little evidence suggesting turtles built nests in wetlands or natural vegetation such as unmowed grass or weedy or leafy cover. Furthermore, the turtles were not likely to nest in places with canopy cover."
http://environment.yale.edu/yer/article/finding-wildlife-habitat-in-urban-areas#gsc.tab=0