GPS Tracking Helps Provide Safe Wildlife Crossings
12 Jun 2014
Cameron County offers ocelots safe wildlife crossings by using GPS tracking devices.
The Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in Cameron County, Texas was looking for ways to provide safer travel across busy roads for local wildlife, including their endangered ocelots. The first thing they needed to do was discover exactly what location to put the wildlife crossings, based on where ocelots typically travel. They decided to use GPS tracking devices to pinpoint the location and movement of ocelots and use that information for building wildlife crossings.
Ocelots are big cats that frequent this area of Texas. They are also known as the dwarf leopard, since they have the same markings but are considerably smaller. Ocelots are carnivores, eating nearby rabbits, birds, and snakes. In certain parts of southeast Texas, there are about 100 ocelots, with approximately 1 million in the world. They are also nocturnal creatures, remaining in the trees or brush during the day, and coming out at night.
Researchers used GPS tracking collars on several ocelots in the area and studied the data about where the ocelots travel the most. They intended to put up eight wildlife crossings and needed to find the best locations. Marion Mason, a local Park Ranger, told reporters that the wildlife crossings are part of a reconstruction project. He said:
“They (Cameron County) consulted with us, and we used the information collected from monitoring the ocelots through collars to determine the best placement for them.”
The Wildlife crossings being built are going to be tunnels that allow ocelots to travel safely to different areas of the county. There will also be fencing near the tunnels to lead them down the tunnels when they want to cross the roads.
Not only will ocelots benefit from these crossings, but other native wildlife as well, including indigo snakes, the Texas tortoise, and some deer. One of the main focuses is on the ocelots, since there is such a small population of them in this part of Texas.
Mason mentioned that about 40 percent of their ocelot population has been killed by cars when they are trying to pass over the road. While there are some tunnels right now on Highway 100 and Highway 48, they are far apart and researchers want to offer more routes for their wildlife.
They are also concerned for the ocelot population because without proper room for growth, they are needing to leave the refuge and find a more spacious habitat. The park rangers and researchers from the refuge are currently calling on the public to inform them if they see an ocelot. They do plan to do more research on their habitat, movements and behaviors, and rely on the public for the ocelot sightings.
This isn’t the first time GPS tracking technology was used to create safe wildlife crossings. GPS tracking data was used to build an animal overpass over U.S. Highway 911 to help Wyoming’s pronghorn make a safer migration each Fall.
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