Graduation Date
Spring 2025
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Natural Resources, option Wildlife
Committee Chair Name
Micaela Szykman Gunther
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Matthew Johnson
Second Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Ho Yi Wan
Third Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Fourth Committee Member Name
Carrington Hilson
Fourth Committee Member Affiliation
Community Member or Outside Professional
Keywords
Elk, Resource selection function, Road ecology, Road crossing, Cervus, Connectivity
Subject Categories
Wildlife
Abstract
Highways fragment habitat and can impose barriers to wildlife. Installing wildlife crossing systems creates opportunities for safe animal movement, improved human safety, and reduced property damage. Research identifying key zones of connectivity can aid in providing recommendations for locations of these systems and other tools to improve highway safety. Although elk-vehicle collisions occur broadly across northwestern California, factors associated with these highway crossing zones have not been studied in this region. To address this gap in research, the objective of this study was to evaluate how environmental and structural factors influence the probability of elk (Cervus canadensis) crossing US-101 in northwestern California. Using GPS collar data collected between December 2016 and December 2024 from 44 female Roosevelt (C.c. roosevelti) and tule (C.c. nannodes) elk from 15 established herds adjacent to US-101, a resource selection function was used to predict the relative probability of elk highway crossing in the study area. Female elk relative road crossing probability was highest in areas closer to streams and rangeland, farther from urban areas and forest edge, with more canopy cover, over less rugged terrain, and in the presence of a bridge. These results will contribute to future management decisions regarding siting of wildlife crossing systems and increasing connectivity to mitigate the negative impacts of highways on elk as well as reduce conflict and safety risks with humans.
Recommended Citation
Jaglowski, Brielle Christine, "Factors influencing elk road crossing behavior" (2025). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2271.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2271