Monitoring wildlife crossing structures along highways in Changbai Mountain, China

- Thirteen medium and large-sized wildlife species through tunnels, bridges and culverts.
- Almost all species were present within 500 m from highway used bridges and culverts.
- The tunnel and the bridges have been important passages for some species.
- Most species preferred to bridges and tunnels.
- Monitoring programs should be conducted for at least 2 months to catch most species activity.

In China, the construction and monitoring of wildlife crossing structures is uncommon. Mountainous area occupies two-thirds area of China. A lot of tunnels (similar to overpasses in developed countries), bridges, and culverts (similar to underpasses) are constructed along highways. In general, these structures are multifunctional, including wildlife migration. However, studies on monitoring these potential crossing structures are almost vacant. Taking two highways in Changbai Mountain area as case studies, infra-red camera trapping and snow tracking were used to investigate the efficiency of tunnels, bridges and culverts on the highways. A total of 13 medium and large-sized wildlife species crossed highway through tunnels, bridges and culverts. One third of species were Chinese national protective species, and almost all species were present within 500 m from Ring Changbai Mountain Scenic highway used bridges and culverts to cross this highway. The tunnel along the expressway (length = 1000 m) and the bridges along the highway (width > 8 m) have been important passages for ungulates, Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris), yellow throated martens (Martes flavigula) and sables (Martes zibellina). Different species preferred to different types of structures, although most species preferred to bridges and tunnels. We suggest that short fences should be set around the bridges and culverts to guide animals to cross the passages, especially for ungulates. Monitoring programs of uses of crossing structures by wildlife should be conducted for at least 2 months to catch most species activity.