THE CHALLENGES AND CONSIDERATIONS IN DEVELOPING A WILDLIFE CROSSING AT TURNER RIVER: AN EFFORT TO PROTECT THE ENDANGERED FLORIDA PANTHER FROM HIGHWAYS AND VEHICLES IN BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE

摘要

The breeding population of the endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) is currently confined to4,860 square miles of suitable habitat in south Florida. Recovery efforts for the species, initiated over 30years ago, emphasize its reintroduction into other areas of its historic range. To accomplish this goal, thefemales of the existing population need to survive, reproduce, and raise offspring to adulthood. Thehighest documented cause of female panther mortality for the past 30 years has been collisions withvehicles (46%). Between 1996 and 2006, 4 panthers, 3 of which were females, were killed in a specificarea on U.S. Highway 41 at Turner River within Big Cypress National Preserve, highlighting thenecessity to provide safe passage at this site, using a technique proven to save panther lives at otherlocations.In 2006, Defenders of Wildlife, a non-profit wildlife advocacy organization, with sponsorshipfrom the National Park Service and through an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,applied for a Transportation Enhancement grant from the Florida Department of Transportation to fundconstruction of a wildlife crossing at this location. The project was awarded funding to develop a ProjectDevelopment and Environmental Study to determine the feasibility and design of a wildlife crossing atthis location. This paper details the challenges and considerations that guided project development,design selection justification, obstacles that ultimately cancelled the project, and lessons learned. Since2006, 2 more female panthers have been killed at this particular site.