An analysis of elk (Cervus canadensis) railway usage following highway wildlife collision mitigation near Burwash, Ontario

Abstract

In recent years, the province of Ontario has implemented highway wildlife collision mitigation infrastructure, such as fencing, over- and under-passes along the Trans-Canada Highway south of Sudbury. However, as is often the case, the nearby railway did not receive any such infrastructure. Since elk have been known to use railways for movement, and consistent use of railways inevitably results in wildlife mortality, research needed to be done to determine the changes in use of the railway following the implementation of wildlife collision mitigation infrastructure. The central question essentially being, now that one travel corridor had been closed to the elk, what changes will occur in the other? Here, the proportional usage of the railway prior to and following this infrastructure project are investigated, mapped, and discussed. It was found that the elk near Burwash spent a significantly greater proportion of time near and on the railway following mitigation in comparison to before mitigation. Major shifts in distribution of the elk population are shown and discussed. In all, this work shows that while wildlife collision mitigation is undoubtedly a benefit to wildlife and humans in the context of the highway, these changes may alter the behaviour of elk in unforeseen ways.