What are Wildlife Corridors?
The short simple answer is that they are pathways, or corridors, that wildlife use to go from one area to another area. Wildlife have been using these corridors for thousands (possibly millions) of years.
The word "pathways" is a bit misleading, while some of these corridors are narrow pathways, most are hundreds of yards or even miles wide.
Some examples of why wildlife use these corridors are: for selective mating, searching for food and water, and weather related moves. A group of animals may have several food and water sources that are miles apart and they use the corridors to move between these areas, following the same general routes every time. Young animals learn to use these corridors from following and watching the adults and they, the young animals, will eventually pass this information onto their young.
Unfortunately, many of these corridors cross roadways which makes it hazardous to both wildlife and humans.
To view a map of wildlife corridors please goto: Sierra Club Mountains Group-Corridor Map
The word "pathways" is a bit misleading, while some of these corridors are narrow pathways, most are hundreds of yards or even miles wide.
Some examples of why wildlife use these corridors are: for selective mating, searching for food and water, and weather related moves. A group of animals may have several food and water sources that are miles apart and they use the corridors to move between these areas, following the same general routes every time. Young animals learn to use these corridors from following and watching the adults and they, the young animals, will eventually pass this information onto their young.
Unfortunately, many of these corridors cross roadways which makes it hazardous to both wildlife and humans.
To view a map of wildlife corridors please goto: Sierra Club Mountains Group-Corridor Map
For the past four years we have been working with biologists from the California Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Forest Service and other County, State, and Federal agencies to install Wildlife Corridor Signs on roadways throughout the San Bernardino Mountains and National Forest area.
It is hoped that these signs will alert drivers of the possible presence of wildlife crossing the roadways and that they will take extra precautions to avoid a Vehicle-vs-Animal Collision.
We have approval from the County of San Bernardino and from the California Traffic Control Device Committee (CTCDC) for an experimental installation of 26 signs. We are now awaiting approval by the Federal Highway Administration.
These signs, if the experimental phase proves a success, may become standard throughout the United States.
The actual dimensions of the signs are: diagonally 4 feet x 4 feet and approximately 67 inches tip to tip.
It is hoped that these signs will alert drivers of the possible presence of wildlife crossing the roadways and that they will take extra precautions to avoid a Vehicle-vs-Animal Collision.
We have approval from the County of San Bernardino and from the California Traffic Control Device Committee (CTCDC) for an experimental installation of 26 signs. We are now awaiting approval by the Federal Highway Administration.
These signs, if the experimental phase proves a success, may become standard throughout the United States.
The actual dimensions of the signs are: diagonally 4 feet x 4 feet and approximately 67 inches tip to tip.
The Project
Additional Information
1. The design of the signs has changed. While they look similar, the size of the animal figures has been increased.
2. The Federal Highway Administration had informed us that they would require a Human Factors Study to quantify the distance that the signs are visible and recognizable before approving the signs. The distance requirement that must be met is 350-500 feet.
We were able to enlist the services of a professor at Cal State San Bernardino, who after doing some testing, agreed to write a letter stating that in his opinion the signs meet the distance requirements.
The letter was given to Jacob Babico, San Bernardino County Road Department, who forwarded it to the Federal Highway Administration near the end of September. We are now awaiting a response.
We have also contacted local Congressional Representatives and our two Senators in an effort to expedite this matter with the Federal Highway Administration.
2. The Federal Highway Administration had informed us that they would require a Human Factors Study to quantify the distance that the signs are visible and recognizable before approving the signs. The distance requirement that must be met is 350-500 feet.
We were able to enlist the services of a professor at Cal State San Bernardino, who after doing some testing, agreed to write a letter stating that in his opinion the signs meet the distance requirements.
The letter was given to Jacob Babico, San Bernardino County Road Department, who forwarded it to the Federal Highway Administration near the end of September. We are now awaiting a response.
We have also contacted local Congressional Representatives and our two Senators in an effort to expedite this matter with the Federal Highway Administration.
Federal Highway Administration Response
On December 1, 2009 the San Bernardino County Road Department received a response from the Federal Highway Administration regarding our wildlife corridor signs. This response was forwarded to us.
A) The Federal Highway Administration has a problem with our animal figures.
1) They are not solid black.
2) They are only 18 inches in height; Their minimum standard is 22 inches.
B) They have a problem with the wording "Wildlife Corridor". They believe that
People in general will not understand what the words mean.
C) Before the signs can be approved, they want a plan in place to conduct studies
before and after the installation of the signs to determine what effect the
signs have had.
We will be working to resolve these issues over the next few weeks and we will resubmit the signs as soon as possible.
1) They are not solid black.
2) They are only 18 inches in height; Their minimum standard is 22 inches.
B) They have a problem with the wording "Wildlife Corridor". They believe that
People in general will not understand what the words mean.
C) Before the signs can be approved, they want a plan in place to conduct studies
before and after the installation of the signs to determine what effect the
signs have had.
We will be working to resolve these issues over the next few weeks and we will resubmit the signs as soon as possible.
Possible Design Changes
In an effort to better meet Federal Highway Administration specifications we are currently looking at several different design changes.
Some possible signs are pictured below.
In an effort to better meet Federal Highway Administration specifications we are currently looking at several different design changes.
Some possible signs are pictured below.
