TCA Board Wants Fewer Smashed Creatures

The Toll Roads are aiming for fewer squashed animals.

To that end, the Foothill Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency board approved an agreement with the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center this week for a study of animal movement patterns in the area.

Scientists aim to figure out what authorities can do to keep animals moving freely in the wilderness through which the 241 Toll Road carves a swath and minimize roadkill.

The work will help TCA meet permit obligations for construction of the , said Pat Bates, Orange County Board of Supervisors, 5th District.

Veterinarian Winston Vickers said he and other researchers will traverse the length of 241 from the 91 Freeway interchange down to the 133 intersection, taking notes. They’ll also be analyzing data from other studies and records of animal-vehicle collisions kept by the California Department of Transportation.

Once they’ve crunched the numbers, Vickers said, scientists will draw up a list of suggestions likely to emphasize fencing repairs, height and arrangement, to hand over to the TCA board and contractors.

“Changes in fencing are obviously the easiest and primary things to be done,” he said.

He said researchers will also use data from a sprawling UC Davis study of mountain lion habits and interactions that has been under way for more than a decade in Orange and San Diego counties.