Use of interstate rights-of-way by birds and mammals warrants wildlife management attention. Twenty-three miles of i-94 right-of-way in north Dakota contained 264 game bird nests including 249 duck nests. Nesting success was 58.8 percent in 1968 and 65.4 percent in 1969. Ducks responded quickly to cessation of mowing when alternate miles of the right-of-way and half the interchange triangles were left unmowed. Seventy-four percent of the ducks chose unmowed nesting sites. Thirty-four percent of the right-of-way waterfowl nests were not hatched by july 4 mowing. Unmowed right-of-way vegetation did not cause snow build-up on the driving surface. The majority (82 percent) of 182 motorists interviewed had not noticed the mowed-unmowed conditions of the right-of-way. Most preferred the mowed condition when asked about the treatments. Numbers and species of wildlife killed by cars in the study area fluctuated with population changes. No increase was noted during the year of alternate mowed-unmowed miles. Recommendations include delayed or curtailed mowing on interstate right-of-way in waterfowl-producing regions. Such practices will increase nesting success and reduce highway maintenance costs. /author/
Abstract