Flashing 'Wildlife Crossing' signs installed along SR 40 through Ocala Nat'l Forest
by Julie Garisto | Leesburg Daily
UMATILLA — Many who commute on forest roads have passed the dreaded sight of perished deer, black bears and raccoons and thought, 'I wish something could be done to help save these poor animals.' If that thought has crossed your mind, here's some news that may be encouraging:
Fifty solar-powered "Wildlife Crossing" signs are being installed along a 34-mile stretch of State Road 40.
Connected to detection technology, the signs are designed to flash yellow lights when wildlife is nearby, giving motorists a heads-up and helping to reduce the number of crashes between vehicles and animals.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission helped initiate the idea when it provided input to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Elizabeth Gifford, community outreach specialist with the FDOT, told North Lake Outpost that the signs have been placed in areas after reviewing data obtained regarding animal movements, along with migratory pattern studies conducted by local universities, and a decade of FDOT crash data.
As part of the project, new pole installations will carry a range of sensors and message boards designed to convey information to travelers.
Installed from Astor westward, and the signs are expected to be completed by the end of the year, with further data analysis in the months ahead.
The idea goes back to 2021, when the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, which dedicated $300 million to preserving and protecting wildlife migration paths. The effort includes physical wildlife crossings, such as overpasses and underpasses, as well as warning signs to reduce vehicle collisions.
If you're wondering where wildlife is apt to cross Florida roads, FDOT has an interactive map at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/c4cb3cdbba424e9f81471d7d9e80707f to help you locate where wildlife crossings have been determined and which ones are planned and under construction. Some are even aquatic.