The use of a motorway wildlife overpass by large mammals

We studied how mammals used a wildlife overpass across a motorway in centra l Netherlands using track counts in 1989, 1994 and 1995. Throughout the stu dy the overpass was used most frequently by red deer (Cervus elaphus) and w ild boar (Sus scrofa) and, less often, by roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), r ed fox (Vulpes vulpes), fallow deer (Dama dama), Highland cattle, and badge r (Meles meles). For red deer and wild boar the highest incidence of use wa s in autumn/early winter, correlating with the rutting season. Small mammal s caught on the overpass were wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), common vole (Microtus arvalis) and common shrew (Sorex araneus). The wildlife overpass es can be an effective means of connecting habitats for a wide range of mam mals but the effectiveness is related to the width of the overpass. For lar ge mammals a minimum width of 40-50 meters is recommended.