Wildlife Protection

Keeping It Simple: Easy Ways to Help Wildlife Along Roads

Elk proof fencing

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has demonstrated that when you want to reduce elk-vehicle collisions with elkproof fencing, you don't have to pull out existing right-of-way fencing and "start over." Instead, you can bolt a vertical pipe "sleeve" onto the fence posts, attach fencing wire to it, and extend the fence to heights of 7.5 or 8 feet (heights impermeable to elk passage). ADOT used fence extensions on central Arizona's State Route 260 outside of Payson, and the result was so successful the department is considering application opportunities throughout the state in high wildlife-vehicle-collision areas not slated for immediate upgrades. That's not all. The fence extensions have also proven to be an extremely cost-effective way to funnel elk and deer to existing wildlife corridors and underpasses, costing a mere one-eighth the expense of complete fence replacement.

--Mar 23, 2009

Bruce Eilerts, (602) 712-7398 or beilerts@dot.state.az.us

This photo is a closeup of extended wildlife fencing along a highway. A section of pipe is bolted onto a rght-of-way fence post to heighten the fence to approximately 8 feet. Fence wire is attached to the pipe section and stretched to another pipe section (not shown) further along the right-of-way fence.

Photo by Photo by Arizona Game and Fish

This elkproof fencing was created simply by extending the right-of-way fence to heights of 7 and 8 feet.

Along Roads - Arizona