In Focus: Denali Park Road: Assessing impacts of traffic on large mammals in Denali National Park and Preserve
Phillips LM, Mace R, Meier T. 2010. In Focus: Denali Park Road: Assessing impacts of traffic on large mammals in Denali National Park and Preserve. Park Science. 27(2):42–47
In 2006, managers of Denali National Park and Preserve (Denali) implemented a number of integrated studies to comprehensively reevaluate the strategy for transporting people in the park. Given Denali’s history as a world-class wildlife viewing park, managers realized that they should examine potential impacts on wildlife from any changes that may be made to traffic volume and patterns on the road. We used Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to study the fine-scale movement patterns of grizzly bears and Dall’s sheep, as well as the distribution and abundance of other large mammals along the park road, to identify possible links between traffic volume and wildlife behavior. We documented 444 and 121 crossings of the Denali Park Road by GPS-collared grizzly bears (n=11) and Dall’s sheep (n=17), respectively, during the study. Grizzly bears in this study were most active during the daylight hours and made most of their road crossings during periods of high traffic volume. Our study revealed that both grizzly bears and Dall’s sheep in Denali responded negatively to increased traffic volumes by increasing their movement rates when approaching the road. Dall’s sheep also shifted away from the road at higher traffic levels. Bus drivers recorded the locations of wildlife sightings along the road, which revealed areas with greater opportunities for viewing large mammals. The distribution and abundance of these sightings are important for visitor satisfaction and wildlife protection. Because access to the Denali Park Road is restricted, park managers have a level of control over vehicle use that is not available to many working to mitigate impacts of traffic on wildlife populations. Our study found evidence that vehicle numbers or patterns of vehicle behavior on the road affected wildlife distribution and movements; however, the magnitude of those effects did not appear to be great. Managers should carefully consider the potential to increase impacts on wildlife to unacceptable levels when analyzing transportation alternatives prior to implementing any changes.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Phillips, Laura; Mace, Richard; Meier, Thomas
- Units
- DENA , NRSS
- Keywords
- Dall’s sheep, Denali National Park And Preserve, Global Positioning System (GPS), Grizzly Bear, Movement, Roads, Traffic, Wildlife