Wildlife crossings like those in Banff National Park are meant to help animals cross highways safely, but ecologists have long been asked about possible unintended consequences of the structures. New research out of the University of Alberta disproves a common theory that predators could exploit the corridors by using them to trap prey. Researchers tested the prey-trap hypothesis by placing remote cameras in 17 wildlife passages in the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve in Quebec between May of 2012 and August of 2015. The researchers also found no photo evidence of any larger predators, like wolves, coyotes or lynx, using the wildlife passages. Scientists will still need to monitor wildlife passages in case predators eventually catch on, she said, but for now, building structures that exclude predators should not be a concern.

Source: CBC News July 14, 2020 23:15 UTC