Small animals such as weasels, mink and chipmunks are using highway medians as food sources, according to new research by University of Alberta biologists.
Small animals such as weasels, mink and chipmunks are using highway medians as food sources, according to new research by University of Alberta biologists.
“We observed animals foraging for everything from other mammals, such as red squirrels looking for birds, to vegetation, like chipmunks with full cheek pouches,” said April Martinig, a PhD student in biological sciences and lead author on the study.
The researchers collected data over three years using infrared cameras installed at six locations along a four-lane highway in Quebec with vegetation growing in the medians.
The results showed many small mammals were getting to the medians through wildlife passages, which are designed to help animals circumvent human-made barriers such as roadways.
Continue reading at University of Alberta.
Image via April Martinig.
