{"id":12323,"date":"2015-08-11T16:08:23","date_gmt":"2015-08-11T20:08:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/?page_id=12323"},"modified":"2025-12-09T14:59:38","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T19:59:38","slug":"connecting-wildlife-improving-roads-motorist-safety-habitat-connectivity","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/connecting-wildlife-improving-roads-motorist-safety-habitat-connectivity\/","title":{"rendered":"Connecting for Wildlife"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"\">BEAT has been working to improve habitat connectivity in Western Massachusetts for several years now. Roads represent a significant barrier to wildlife movement, subdividing the landscape, fragmenting and degrading habitat, and contributing to wildlife mortality due to vehicle collisions. These issues don\u2019t only apply to terrestrial wildlife, either; roads intersect with streams and rivers frequently, forcing undersized pipes and culverts to be installed underneath roads in order to funnel the water from one side to the other, often causing significant negative impacts on these ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">To address this issue, BEAT is collaborating with transportation planners, biologists, universities, and locals to identify, survey, and analyze road segments within linkage zones (also known as wildlife corridors) and road-stream crossings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">In short, BEAT\u2019s Connecting for Wildlife program aspires to<em> <\/em>maximize motorist safety by reducing vehicle-wildlife collisions and minimize the ecological footprint of roadways by improving landscape connectivity, including waterways like rivers and streams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Visit our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/volunteers-stream-crossings\/\">Wildlife Connectivity Surveying<\/a><\/strong> page to learn more about the difference between terrestrial and aquatic connectivity and how the surveying techniques compare to each other. We\u2019re also actively training\/certifying people on these surveying protocols. If you\u2019re interested in this volunteer fieldwork, please review the specifications and email<a href=\"mailto:team@thebeatnews.org\"> team@thebeatnews.org<\/a> to let us know. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>CHURCHILL BROOK: A VICTORY FOR TERRESTRIAL &amp; AQUATIC WILDLIFE<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">In 2013, BEAT, the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA), and the City of Pittsfield undertook a long-term project to restore the natural aquatic connectivity of Churchill Brook.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Churchill Brook has its headwaters in Pittsfield State Forest. The only human-made obstructions on this brook were two undersized culverts, one at Churchill Street and the other at Hancock Road \u2014 both in Pittsfield, MA.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The goals of this project were to:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Restore aquatic connectivity in Churchill Brook&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Ensure the new stream crossings would last 100 years and could pass the new 100-year (1% chance) flood waters that climate disruption is bringing&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Restore the natural transport of nutrients and sediments downstream&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Allow for terrestrial wildlife passage under both roads most of the year (except during high water flow events)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Reduce the maintenance burden of these crossings on the highway staff in Pittsfield<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">During the winter of 2020-2021, an undersized culvert (pipe under the road) was replaced with a bridge that spans 1.2 times the bankfull width on Churchill Brook. Previously, no wildlife could cross under Churchill Street, and BEAT had documented deer in the road and at least one that had likely been hit and killed at this location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"883\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/2020-10-19-Upstream-of-Churchill-St-w-Kate-V-1-883x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57097\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:391px;height:500px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/2020-10-19-Upstream-of-Churchill-St-w-Kate-V-1-883x1024.jpg 883w, https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/2020-10-19-Upstream-of-Churchill-St-w-Kate-V-1-259x300.jpg 259w, https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/2020-10-19-Upstream-of-Churchill-St-w-Kate-V-1-768x891.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/2020-10-19-Upstream-of-Churchill-St-w-Kate-V-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 883px) 100vw, 883px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>BEFORE<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Churchill-Brook-Bridge.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-60095\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:555px;height:500px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Churchill-Brook-Bridge.png 1000w, https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Churchill-Brook-Bridge-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Churchill-Brook-Bridge-768x576.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>AFTER<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Using winter tracking, BEAT documented mink passing under the bridge during the winter of 2022-2023, and in the spring of 2023, we began to see other wildlife using this bridge to pass under Churchill Street. Wildlife using the crossing include raccoon, opossum, bobcat, deer, and a deer with her fawn. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=eNEisXIwiGU&amp;list=PLslUCI3fP_hzpqw9n4rOeqXtw0d2ogjKL\">Click here<\/a> to watch a video compilation of the wildlife caught on trailcam using the underpass.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p class=\"responsive-video-wrap wpex-clr\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Churchill Brook wildlife crossing: 2 undersized culverts replaced with bridges\" width=\"980\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eNEisXIwiGU?list=PLslUCI3fP_hzpqw9n4rOeqXtw0d2ogjKL\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><em>You can also read our 2023 Report for this project <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Churchill-Brook-2023-Report.pdf\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>BERKSHIRE WILDLIFE TRACKERS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">In addition to identifying potential crossings and surveying infrastructure, BEAT has been actively working to get more people trained in wildlife tracking \u2014 and not <em>only<\/em> because tracking is fun. Being able to identify wildlife track and sign is an invaluable tool in the connectivity surveying arsenal. Having skilled trackers as a resource in connectivity allows us to know <em>exactly <\/em>where wildlife are crossing and what species are doing so!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">During the winter of 2007-2008, BEAT took on the task of getting our first group of Berkshire Wildlife Trackers trained. We hired Sue Morse, the founder of Keeping Track and one of North America&#8217;s top wildlife trackers, to join us in the Berkshires and train people. This eventually led to the creation of Mass Wildlife Trackers in 2008, which became the Northeast Wildlife Trackers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">In addition to creating this forum of wildlife-tracker enthusiasts throughout the region, we\u2019ve been able to provide training in Keeping Track to over 70 people here in the Berkshires, in addition to offering CyberTracker trainings and workshops with other wildlife tracker professionals.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Each winter, we organize tracking hikes with skilled trackers throughout the county. If you\u2019re interested in joining our email list for updates on these, email <a href=\"mailto:team@thebeatnews.org\">team@thebeatnews.org<\/a> and let us know. Click here to find a compilation of wildlife tracking resources.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">In June 2023, at the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation (ICOET), BEAT received a stewardship award for our work protecting and re-connecting wildlife habitat in the Berkshire Wildlife Linkage area. This effort is part of a larger Staying Connected Initiative: a partnership of many conservation organizations that work together to maintain landscape connectivity across the Northern Appalachians in the Acadian Region of the US and Canada.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">PARTNERS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"nfd-my-0 wp-block-group alignfull\" style=\"padding-top:8px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:8px;padding-left:8px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.org\/en-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"417\" height=\"121\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/download.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57114\" style=\"aspect-ratio:3.446280991735537;width:300px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/download.png 417w, https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/download-300x87.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 417px) 100vw, 417px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/stayingconnectedinitiative.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"464\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/color-logo@2x.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57108\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.9;width:284px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/color-logo@2x.png 464w, https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/color-logo@2x-300x103.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 464px) 100vw, 464px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/berkshireplanning.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/1593527738982.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57111\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;width:167px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/1593527738982.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/1593527738982-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/1593527738982-144x144.jpeg 144w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"hvatoday.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"280\" height=\"479\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hva_logo_-_horizontal_jpg-1663879366-2.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57117\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.5845511482254697;width:115px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hva_logo_-_horizontal_jpg-1663879366-2.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/hva_logo_-_horizontal_jpg-1663879366-2-175x300.jpeg 175w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 280px) 100vw, 280px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/followtheforest.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"479\" height=\"190\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/280080109237117-removebg-preview-2-1.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57113\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.5210526315789474;width:277px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/280080109237117-removebg-preview-2-1.webp 479w, https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/280080109237117-removebg-preview-2-1-300x119.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 479px) 100vw, 479px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ag.umass.edu\/umass-extension-your-community\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"376\" height=\"134\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/images.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57109\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.8059701492537314;width:276px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/images.png 376w, https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/images-300x107.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 376px) 100vw, 376px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>RESOURCES<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">We have several pages with compiled lists of wildlife-related resources here on our website. Visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/resources\/\">Resources<\/a> page and scroll down to the Wildlife section to find them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Report wildlife roadkill, amphibian crossings, and turtle deaths<\/strong> on<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkinglandscapes.info\/\"> Linking Landscapes for Massachusetts Wildlife<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.org\/en-us\/get-involved\/how-to-help\/places-we-protect\/berkshires-western-massachusetts\/\">Berkshire Wildlife Linkage<\/a>  (part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/stayingconnectedinitiative.org\/\">Staying Connected Initiative<\/a>)&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/followtheforest.org\/\">Follow the Forest<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/streamcontinuity.org\/\">The Stream Continuity Portal<\/a> (access to the NAACC database)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wildlandsandwoodlands.org\/\">Wildlands and Woodlands<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/northeastwildlifetrackers.com\/\">Northeast Wildlife Trackers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/road-ecology-wildlife\/\">Road Ecology &amp; Wildlife <\/a>(BEAT resource page)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>BEAT has been working to improve habitat connectivity in Western Massachusetts for several years now. Roads represent a significant barrier to wildlife movement, subdividing the landscape, fragmenting and degrading habitat, and contributing to wildlife mortality due to vehicle collisions. These&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":85,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-12323","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry","no-media"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Connecting for Wildlife - Berkshire Environmental Action Team<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/connecting-wildlife-improving-roads-motorist-safety-habitat-connectivity\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Connecting for Wildlife - Berkshire Environmental Action Team\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"BEAT has been working to improve habitat connectivity in Western Massachusetts for several years now. Roads represent a significant barrier to wildlife movement, subdividing the landscape, fragmenting and degrading habitat, and contributing to wildlife mortality due to vehicle collisions. 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