MAINE AUDUBON Wildlife Road Watch Citizen Scientist Observations 2010-2014 by Barbara Charry Conservation Biologist/GIS Manager Table of Contents Project Summary 1 Wildlife Observations 2 Statewide Overview of Roads Analyzed 3 Interstates & Highways 4 - 20 Endangered Species Road Watch 21 Endangered Species Road Watch Routes 22 - 34 Author & Acknowledgements Interstate 295 35 Maine Audubon Wildlife Road Watch Project Summary Maine Audubon Wildlife Road Watch (WRW) is a citizen science project developed in partnership with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Maine Department of Transportation, and University of California, Davis Road Ecology Center. Volunteers record their observations of wildlife crossing roads ­— both dead and alive — on the WRW website (wildlifecrossing. net/maine/). Wildlife need to move across the landscape to find food and water and areas to rest, breed, and raise their young. Roads and traffic can make it difficult or impossible for animals to move safely. Wildlife populations can be reduced or even go locally extinct due to collisions, as well as, the inability to move to necessary habitats. Wildlife movement has become even more important for population survival as habitats shift due to climate change and animals must adapt by moving to find more suitable habitat. Wildlife-vehicle collisions are also a serious safety issue for drivers. Understanding and identifying where animals are moving both successfully and unsuccessfully across roads can help wildlife and road managers, at both the Maine Department of Transportation and local town level, know where to implement wildlife crossings and road enhancements to help animals cross roads safely and protect driver safety. This can include wildlife crossing underpasses, overpasses, fencing and signs. See “Conserving Wildlife On and Around Maine’s Roads” for more information. (maineaudubon.org/publicationsresources/) Wildlife Road Watch Results Interactive Web Map To view an interactive map of all identified High Density and Hotspot locations and to see the surrounding landscape characteristics, go to: maineaudubon.org/roadwatch 1 Wildlife Observations Summary Between July 2010 and December 31, 2014, over 460 volunteers have recorded over 4800 observations which includes 6000 individual animals recorded. Sixty percent of the observations were dead animals and 40% live animals. Volunteers identified 153 different species. Animal groups observed Mammals 57% (77% Dead, 23% Live) Birds 27% (19% Dead, 81% Live) Amphibians 10% (82% Dead, 18% Live) Reptiles 4% (77 % Dead, 23% Live) Most common species observed # Species _________________________ 943 688 591 414 315 293 207 164 129 114 96 93 93 - (hotspots). Both high density locations and hotspots are important for understanding and planning for wildlife movement. Places where high density locations and hotspots overlap are especially important. Hotspot and high density locations were commonly found in places with the following landscape characteristics: • Interstate on/off ramp intersections with wetlands, streams and rivers • Where the road bisects large wetland and stream complexes • At road stream crossings • Where the road runs parallel to rivers, lakes or large wetlands • Highways with large (several hundred foot wide) wooded medians • Where more than one of the above road and surrounding landscape characteristics occur in the same place Interstate and State Highway Maps Wild Turkey Porcupine Gray Squirrel Raccoon Striped Skunk White-tailed Deer Woodchuck Red Fox Red Squirrel Common Snapping Turtle Wood Frog Northern Spring Peeper Painted Turtle The following Maine Interstate and highway sections were analyzed: I-95 South (N. Scarborough to S. Falmouth) I-95 North of I-295 to Alton Route 17/126 Route 139/202/100A Route 127 Route 128 I-295 Route 116 Route 4/16 Route 1 Route 27/9 Data Analysis The observations were used in a geographic information system (GIS) to find stretches of road where wildlife road– crossing attempts occur more frequently (high density locations) and places where there are statistically-significant clusters of wildlife road-crossing attempts 2 The maps show one mile long high density locations (red) (highway segments with >= 10 individuals observed/mile) and hotspots (black) of varying lengths. The numbers of animals observed (from 0 to 5 and over) per ¼ mile road segment are shown in different colored segments along the entire route analyzed. Statewide Overview of Roads Analyzed Piscataq uis PE r1 ml Somerset Washington Fra I 3 006 . I I Hancock ?0 . u: 0mm Waldu .1 .- Kennebe If?? Knur-r-L- .. g? If . Uncaln .el H.7- 13 I I rInCumberland 4 n1 . . M. I Map 1 of 3 I-95 I-95 10 miles with 129 observations (12.9 observations/mile) High Density Locations & Hotspots Overlap South Portland to Warren Avenue Jetport & Congress Street/Route 22 (Stroudwater River and Long Creek Hotspot section) Portland/Falmouth (Exit 52 Interchange & Presumpscot River & Meander Brook) 4 I-95 Map 2 of 3 98 miles with 227 observations (2.3 observations/mile) High Density Locations & Hotspots Overlap Benton/Fairfield (Kennebec River Crossing at Exit 132, Route 201) Hotspot Clinton (South of Burnham) 5 Map 3 of 3 I-95 98 miles with 227 observations (2.3 observations/mile) Hotspots Bangor (North of Exit 186 to North of Chase Rd) Orono (Exit 193) 6 Map 1 of 2 I-295 53 miles with 382 observations (7.2 observations/mile) High Density Locations & Hotspots Overlap Falmouth (Exit 10 Interchange South of I-495 Spur) Freeport (Exits 20-22) High Density Location Cumberland/Yarmouth (Exit 15) 7 I-295 Map 2 of 2 53 miles with 382 observations (7.2 observations/mile) High Density Locations & Hotspots Overlap Brunswick Route 1 Interchange Bowdoinham (Exit 37 Interchange Route 125 to North of Millay Road) Richmond (South of Exit 43 North to Langdon Road) Gardner (Exit 49) High Density Locations Brunswick/Topsham (Androscoggin River and Exit 31, 2 miles long) Richmond (Alexander Reed Road Crossing) 8 Rte 4/16 53.7 miles, 86 records with 278 observations (5.2 observations/mile) High Density Locations & Hotspots Overlap Linclon PLT (Route 16 Magalloway River) Rangeley Route 16 (Cupsuptic Lake) milesCove/ with 382 observations (7.2 observations/mile). Rangeley Route 4/1653 (Hunter Dodge Pond) High Density Location Phillips Route 4 9 Palarmci lite 21/9 23 miles, 79 observations Chlna (3.4 observations/mile) wald? Hotspot CID. Chelsea Augusta Ghlsea .L Lincoln I. RanEHd' CD. Jr Lj If mine?eld I i' I Piths?mn 43mm" ?t . i i' {:h?ald r? I if f! . {a Luau! I 2 Dresden i ?4 I. I. Exam" I Mableinnrn ?15 .l .1 .J ii! ?p All-la K. 5 i . If? (I: Bawduin: i - - saga-Jath can" If if! Dan-Ian;th 3" L- - 1' Newcasrl/ II: jBrernan Human:1?15, IE 1' Tupsham Legend ?i I (2 Edgacnmh Mmberufnirinal ?haamliun: par 1? HIIB Piu? 9 1 1 2 3.4 Cumberland 5+ '15th ?i . I: mod Emil-lbw) I Miami: Island I - am I- 1 Mile High Density Luca?mu Co. Rte 17/126 14 miles, 51 observations (3.6 observations/mile) No High Density Locations & No Hotspots 11 Rte 139/202/100A 24.8 miles, 298 records with 336 observations (13.5 observations/mile) High Density Locations & Hotspots Overlap Unity Route 139 Troy Route 202 High Density Locations Winslow/Benton Route 100A Benton to Unity Unity to Troy, Route 202 12 Rte 128 15.2 miles, 92 records with 215 observations (14.1 observations/mile) High Density Location & Hotspots Overlap Dresden Route 128 High Density Locations Dresden Route 127 Woolwich Rte 127 12.75 miles, 58 records with 136 observations, (10.7 observations/mile) High Density Location & Hotspots Overlap Dresden Woolwich High Density Location Woolwich, Nequasset Lake 13 Rte 116 21.4 miles, 45 records with 61 observations (2.9 observations/mile) High Density Locations & Hotspots Overlap Argyle Twp Edinburg 14 Rte 1 Map 1 of 6 317 miles, 295 observations (0.9 observations/mile) No High Density Locations & No Hotspots 15 Rte 1 Map 2 of 6 High Density Locations & Hotspots Overlap Brunswick/West Bath Woolwich Causeway Hotspots Falmouth Brunswick Route 1 West Woolwich Nequasset Brook Woolwich/Wiscasset 16 Map30f6 High Desnity Locations& 7 Hun?'ilh Mn . . w-J? No Hotspots Jr - Go. I it gi?Harms-ml .- '4 I ?lunar i - . . Wm ?nmln Knox Cu. 3 Radium! l'hmharufhmhal Mum par 1? 1 l-Ilh nanch Locum Rte 1 Map 4 of 6 Route 1-East 158 miles, 89 observations, 0.6 observations/mile Hotspot Hancock 18 MapSOf? l' Wade lite 1 3 125MB kn 1 No Hi Desni Locations I . No Hots ots (TI ?new: . . My? ?3 cummi- Danni: 1 ?ung-Fa "1 I 1 11? 1mm: "wag. .3 I . Legend l'hmharufhhal Mum par 1? 1 nanny Luca-um Map?of? lite 1 Hotspots East Machias Whiting Edmunds Lagand Worn par 1? Hllu 1 an. l-Ilh Damn}! Luca-um 20 Endangered Species Road Watch In 2012, 2013 & 2014 volunteers surveyed 1 mile-long walking routes from April through September and reported all of their wildlife observations. Volunteers were asked to survey their assigned route a minimum of 8 times. They also recorded when they surveyed the route but did not see any wildlife. Volunteers surveyed 25 routes. Of those, 13 routes did not have enough wildlife observations for data analysis. For the remaining 12 Endangered Species Road Watch Routes, 100 meter-long (330 feet) High Density locations and Hotspots of varying lengths were identified. These are shown on the following pages overlain or aerial photos so you can see the underlying landscape. In addition, the number of animal observations per 50 meter (165 feet) road segment are shown along the entire route. High Density Location & Hotspot Road Segments Identified: Berwick, Sullivan Street/School Street/Route 9 (7 observations/mile) York, Clay Hill Road (36 observations/mile) Sanford, Kennebunk Road (13 records, 18 observations/mile) Scarborough, Pleasant Hill Road (53 records, 56 observations/mile) Eliot, Harold L Dow Highway (13 records, 18 observations/mile) Routes not analyzed due to low numbers of wildlife observations: Kittery, Pocahontas Road (11 observations/mile) Kennebunk, Webber Hill Rd. York, Route 103 South Berwick, Dow Highway Ogunquit, Captain Thomas Rd. Eliot, Depot Rd. Waterboro, Main St. Old Orchard Beach, Ross Rd. Scarborough, Payne Rd. Scarborough, Eastern Road Marsh Cape Elizabeth, Broad Cove Rd./ Saltspray Ln. South Berwick/York, Mountain Rd. Scarborough, Black Point Rd. South Berwick, Witchtrot Rd. York/Ogunquit, Boston Road/ North Village Road (69 records, 82 observations/mile) North Berwick, Elm Street (26 observations/mile) Biddeford, Newtown Road (30 observations/mile) Cape Elizabeth, Charlie E. Jordan Road (32 records, 45 observations/ mile) Alfred, Gebung Road (48 records, 126 observations/mile) York, Mountain Road 44 records, 53 observations/mile) 21 Endangered Species Road Watch Routes This map shows the 25 routes surveyed by citizen science volunteers. 12 red segments were analyzed and data are shared in this report. 13 black segments were not analyzed due to low numbers of wildlife observations (problem locations for wildlife may still occur, but were not determined.) 22 Sullivan Street/School Street/ Route 9 Legend Numb-er of Animal ?baewatiuna per 50 Helen; {155 feet] - Hutsputs - High Density Localinn: Kennebunk Road Legend of Minn! ?brlma?nm par 5n Helen [155 tact} 41-5 l-Igh Hamil-y Luca?ana Sanfmd Harold L. Dow Highway [lumbar qunimal Ubum?nm par 51] New [155 fE?l} Kitterv Pocahontas Road Legend Numb-Hr uf Animal Observations par 5D Meters {155 feet] - Hump-arts - High Density Laca?uns Boston/ North Village Road Ogunqul! Legend Number uf Animal; Dhamalinns par 50 Ham. {Instant} - High Density Luna?um Elm Street Legend Number of Animals Observed per 511 News [165 feel) etepets igh Illeneityr Leeatiens 39.1131 BerwmI-c Newtown Road Legend NW of Animal: Ghanaian: per 50 Ham {155 feet} - High Density cane Elizabeth 3 5 Charlie E. jordan Road . Legend Number uf Animal Dhsamiians par Hatars??s feat] - Hmanma - High Darwin; Lucah'uns Gebung Road Legend Number of Aminal Dbimatims pat ?stars (155 fuel} High Density Location: Y?l?ll Mountain Road Legend Number nf Anlmal Dhsawatinns per 50 "am [165 feet] 1 2- 4- .5- - walnuts High Density Lucatinns Y?l?ll Clay Hill Road Legend Of par 50 [1'55 hat] - High Denslw Lucatluns Pleasant Hill Road Legend Number ef Animals Observed per 511 Haters [165 feet} - Hetspet: - High Density Leeatiene The Author Barbara Charry, Maine Audubon Conservation Biologist/GIS Manager, works on minimizing the impacts of sprawl and development on Maine’s wildlife, including the impact of roads and traffic. Under Barbara’s leadership, Maine Audubon convened the firstever state-wide conference on road ecology in Maine. She has also presented at the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation. She has written several guides for land use decision makers and community members on the impacts of development on wildlife including a community conservation guide, “Conserving Wildlife On and Around Maine Roads”. She may be reached at bcharry@maineaudubon.org or (207)781-2330 ext. 225. Acknowledgements Thank you to all the volunteers who have kept their eyes peeled while out driving or walking along the Maine roads and recorded all their sightings onto the website. Your cumulative work is invaluable. A special thank you to Dr. Fraser Shilling, UC Davis California, for making it possible for Maine to become the second state in the country to have a statewide wildlife-road reporting system modeled on the California program, as well as for his generous time and expertise guiding analysis of the data and many other questions along the way. Thank you to Dr. Dave Waetjin, UC Davis California, for his technical expertise in developing the website on a shoestring and making endless modifications to customize it for Maine with patience and good humor. Thank you to Richard Bostwick, Maine Department of Transportation, Jonathan Mays, Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (now in Florida), and Susan Gallo, Maine Audubon for your guidance developing this citizen science program. Funding from Toyota Together Green, the TransWild Alliance and the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund provided essential support in making this project possible. Between the project start in mid-2010 through the end of December 2014, over 460 volunteers have recorded over 4800 observations. 35 MA I AU 0 omemz'ng 5127163? 20 Gilsland Farm Road Falmouth, ME 04105 maineaudubonorg