In 2014, the Miistakis Institute hosted a Citizen Science Conference, exploring this diverse field with sessions on program design, evaluation, policy implications, technology and applications in parks and protected areas. This links to the website that chronicled that event.
Citizen Scientists help improve human and wildlife safety on Highway 3
Highway 3 in Southern Alberta in a recognized fracture zone for wildlife in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Miistakis Institute and partners recommended key areas where highway mitigation (for example underpass and fencing) would help wildlife move safely across the highway and reduce the number of animal vehicle collisions (AVC).
Alberta Transportation implemented recommended mitigation strategies at Crowsnest/Emerald Lake site by installed fencing to tie into an existing underpass and jump-outs in 2016. We aimed to understand if these measures are effective in reducing AVCs and helping wildlife move safely across the highway.
Collision Count, a citizen science program, was developed where participants walk specified routes at three mitigation sites one a week and report observations of animal carcasses using a smartphone application. Collision Count Participants walked 1052 transects over 4 years and reported 60 animal carcasses at the three sites away from the highway right of way.
While highway maintenance contractors drove the road daily and reported 41 animal carcasses from the highway right of way. Key findings are presented on evaluating the mitigation strategy to reduce wildlife vehicle collisions at Crowsnest/Emerald Lakes using citizen collected data.
Poster Authors: Rob Schaufele, Tracy Lee and Kim Rondeau (Miistakis Institute) and Elizabeth Anderson, Monica Bartha, Emilie Bien, Chris Clarke, Cindy Crane, Shirley Enzol, Gary Enzol, Travis Huss, Tracey Kaisner, Barbara Koch, Victor Koch, Glenda Newsted, Loretta Schaufele, Gerry Smith, Dorthy Smith, Chris Weickert, Sue Weickert, Nelson White and Kat Williams (Super Awesome Collision Count participants)
Speaker Bio:Rob has been the local coordinator for Collision Count since the project’s beginning in 2014. From 2003 to 2010, he was the local coordinator for Road Watch in the Pass, another Miistakis Citizen Science project. When funding for Road Watch dried up, Rob ran the project (with his wife Loretta) on a volunteer basis.
Rob moved from Edmonton to the Crowsnest Pass in 1998. He lives very close to Highway 3 and sees a lot of roadkill ☹ so he is very passionate about working towards mitigation to improve the safety of wildlife and people on the roadway.