2013 Session: 713

• Responses, Movements, and Survival of Relocated Box Turtles During Construction of Inter-County Connector Highway in Maryland
  Abstract: We compared the success of different techniques of relocations as a means of mitigating the impacts of the construction of a major highway on Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina) in Maryland. We compared the movement patterns, home range size, and survival of turtles from three treatment groups between 2008-2011; turtles native to the study site and not moved during the study (native turtles), turtles native to the site, but which were moved from the limit of disturbance (LOD) of the highway (on-site relocations), and turtles not native to the site, which were relocated onto the site (off-site relocations). Turtles in the off-site relocation group had larger home ranges and moved longer distances than either on-site or native turtles. However, unlike other studies, off-site relocated turtles did not make directional movements off of the study area nor did they have difficulty finding suitable sites for overwintering. We found no statistically-significant differences in survival between our three treatment groups. However, overall survival rates were <65% over the three years of our study, considerably lower than rates seen in other Box Turtle populations, perhaps due to an emerging pathogen (Ranavirus), which caused numerous deaths of Box Turtles. Our recommendations for “Best Practices” centered on the need for more effective wildlife fences to be constructed and maintained earlier in the construction timeline. Failure to create and maintain such a barrier in our study lead to numerous “trespass” events, where turtles moved onto the LOD and would likely have been killed without our intervention
  Authors: Seigel, Richard A; Farnsworth, Scott D
  Authors: Seigel, Richard A; Farnsworth, Scott D
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Environment
  Session: 713
  Paper Number: 13-0194
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Effect of Reduced Roadside Mowing on Rate of Deer-Vehicle Collisions
  Abstract: The investigation’s objective was to determine if reducing roadside mowing causes measurable change in deer vehicle collision (DVCs) rates. Decreased mowing may change vegetation structure which could affect deer density and/or behavior at the roadside, or motorists’ ability to detect and react to deer entering the roadway. Both these effects would be expected to increase the DVC rate. However, the results of a literature review and survey of current practice conducted for the project indicated that no quantitative evaluation of this concept has been conducted.The number of DVC/year were compared before and after mowing was reduced at six locations in Maryland and four locations in New York to determine if there was a statistically significant difference in DVC rate between the two time periods. Three years of before data were compared to three years of after data, and the predictive relationship of mowing regime on DVC rate was also examined. Five study areas reported more DVC/year after mowing was reduced, four reported more DVC/year before mowing was reduced, and one experienced essentially no change. Results from three New York study areas were marginally significant (p =0.10), but the direction of change was inconsistent. None of the Maryland study area changes were significant. The R2 values between DVC and mowing were significant (p value <0.05) for only one of the ten study areas tested. Small sample sizes were used, and results should be interpreted with care. However, the results do not suggest DVC rates are related to mowing regime.
  Authors: Barnum, Sarah
  Authors: Barnum, Sarah
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Environment
  Session: 713
  Paper Number: 13-5041
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Responses, Movements, and Survival of Relocated Box Turtles During Construction of Inter-County Connector Highway in Maryland
  Authors: Seigel, Richard
  Authors: Seigel, Richard
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: AICP Certification Maintenance Session; Environment
  Session: 713
  Paper Number: 13-0194
• Effect of Reduced Roadside Mowing on Rate of Deer-Vehicle Collisions
  Authors: Barnum, Sarah
  Authors: Barnum, Sarah
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: AICP Certification Maintenance Session; Environment
  Session: 713
  Paper Number: 13-5041
• Wildlife Fencing Escape Ramp Monitoring of Mule Deer and Elk in Southwestern Colorado
  Authors: Anderson, David
  Authors: Anderson, David
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: AICP Certification Maintenance Session; Environment
  Session: 713
  Paper Number: P13-6903