Roads often intersect with animals’ migratory patterns, creating dangerous conditions for some small creatures such as salamanders, toads and frogs, which are often slow-moving and too small for drivers to see.
As standard practice along its highways, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) builds small animal crossings into its highways to allow safe passage beneath the roadway. However, the distance between crossings and other factors can affect whether the creatures make it to the crossing point or give up too soon. To increase the probability that these at-risk animals will make it to – and continue through – the crossing points, Caltrans conducted a research study that identified a promising and cost-effective solution to support the state’s amphibian and reptile populations.
Read the final report: Roadway Crossings for Sensitive Amphibians and Reptiles: Phase II, October 2024.
Image source: Caltrans