Respond to Susan directly. Don't think on this list. But she is a good source to put in your address books about road mortality for any animals [email protected]
Her Message A concerned resident has alerted us to an ongoing situation involving high rates of turtle mortality on a four-lane road that borders a military base in Norfolk, Virginia. Both native and non-native aquatic species are involved. The turtles inhabit a large lake on one side of the road, and can leave the lake via a spillway and stream under the road. They attempt to return to the lake by crossing the road, as evidenced by the finding of carcasses only in the two lanes of traffic furthest from the lake. We are working with state and local officials to address potential modifications of existing fencing to force turtles to return under the road. Even with that, however, their return from the stream to the lake is prevented by the concrete spillway. On the day we visited, shad were also attempting to return to the lake, but clearly could not. Please see the attached photos. (me again- ask her for them if interested, I can never get anything attached so place for it on this listserv.) If anyone has experience in modifying spillways presumably with a ramp of some kind (?) -- to accommodate ascent by turtles, I would appreciate your suggestions/thoughts. Suggestions for modification of the spillway itself to permit fish to return to the lake would also be much appreciated. Susan Susan Hagood Wildlife and Transportation Regulatory Specialist, Regulatory Affairs [email protected] t 301.258.3149 f 301.258.3080
