WILDLIFE CROSSING DESIGNS AND USE BY FLORIDA PANTHERS AND OTHER WILDLIFE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

This paper reports the results of a study of two designs of underpasses which were placed to mitigate road kills of the endangered Florida panther. When State Road 84 was converted to Interstate 75, 24 wildlife underpasses were placed at locations identified as panther crossings. Use of these underpasses was encouraged by erecting a 3.4 m chain-link fence topped with 3 strands of outrigged barbed wire along the 65 km stretch of interstate that runs through panther habitat. The second wildlife crossing design was developed for State Road 29, a 2-lane highway running through panther habitat, and was installed at 2 critical areas. Both designs have been used by Florida panthers and a host of other animal species. Because both designs were used by a variety of wildlife species, including Florida panthers, it is felt that the design is of less importance than their location. It appears that either wildlife crossing design will be successful when placed at sites where animals habitually cross.