saving red squirrels from road accidents
Someone in the corporate ng had put up a photograph to identify, which looked to me like a red squirrel so I googled to make sure. It turned out to be a big issue in England. The last thing that really concerns me is the decline of red squirrels in the north west of England, but still the neighbourhood conservationalists seemed to have a pretty innovative approach for the problem of saving the squirrels from road accidents…
How we prevent road casualities
Red Alert North East is helping to protect red squirrels from traffic by constructing rope bridges. This involves a length of thick rope (such as that used for mooring ships) placed between two trees or telegraph poles high above the road. Road casualty hotspots are identified using the red squirrel database. The bridge is then constructed, and squirrels are encouraged to use it by placing food in strategic places. This has proved highly successful on the Isle of Wight and in Cumbria – after all, red squirrels would rather remain high up in the tree tops than come down to ground level to cross a road!
In the near future we will also be installing road signs throughout the region. We are currently negotiating to ensure that are signs are approved by the County Councils and Highways Agency. Unfortunately we’re not allowed to just go ahead and put the signs up, no matter how urgent the need!
Nice solution indeed. I also enjoy seeing technology saving lives. 🙂