The Controlled traffic system and associated wildlife responses in Denali National Park

Singer, F; Beattie, J

(Adapted from authors' abstract.) This 1986 article by U.S. National Park Service (NPS) employees reports on wildlife responses to traffic in Denali National Park. NPS sampled wildlife observability and responses and visitor attitudes in 1982-1983, 10 years after a mandatory visitor shuttle bus transportation system had been implemented in the Park. This data was compared to data collected in a 1972 survey, as well as to data taken in 1973-1974. Visitor approval of the park transportation policy increased from 80% to 89% from 1972 to 1982-1983. Vehicles per day increased 50% from 1973-1974 to 1982-1983. Moose sightings per trip declined 72%, grizzly bear sightings declined 32%, while Dall sheep and caribou sightings remained constant over the same period. Allowing unlimited private vehicle access during the fall of 1982 and that of 1983 had little influence upon the numbers of wildlife seen. However, more wildlife were put to flight, flight distances increased, more grizzlies were thwarted from crossing the road, and visitors stopped near and approached wildlife afoot more often. Wildlife responses were significantly influenced by: pre-stimulus wildlife behavior (for all four species); the type of human behavior (for moose and grizzlies); sex/age class (for moose and caribou); group size (for caribou); number of vehicles present (for grizzlies); and the presence or absence of vegetation screening (for moose and grizzlies [p less than 0.05]). Moose were alert four times as often (32+-21%) when close to the Park road than when greater than1 km away (4.8+-5.1%). When close to the road they were alerted to 37+-21% of all road stimuli, while caribou were alerted to only 21+-11% (p less than 0.03) of road stimuli.

The Controlled traffic system and associated wildlife responses in Denali National Park

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