AMERICAN BLACK BEAR (URSUS AMERICANUS) USE OF HIGHWAY UNDERPASSES IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY

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Author(s)Victoria Alves
Date Accessioned2025-07-29T21:18:32Z
Date Available2025-07-29T21:18:32Z
Publication Date2025-05
AbstractThe state of New Jersey balances a large human population with associated transportation infrastructure and urban development with an ecological diversity that encompasses many species and habitat types. One key member of that ecological diversity is the American black bear (Ursus americanus), a quintessential omnivore found throughout the state despite many major roadways that could pose barriers to movement and habitat connectivity. Here I examine black bear movement dynamics at existing underpass structures of major roadways in Northern New Jersey. We monitored 37 potential crossing structures along State Route 1, Interstate 78, Interstate 80, Interstate 95, State Route 202, and State Route 206, using trail cameras. My findings suggest that the current North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative metric used to assess underpasses for bear use may not accurately predict bear use, and that habitat related factors, specifically the amount of core habitat in the area surrounding each underpass, may provide a stronger predictive basis for where a bear crossing might occur. These findings can be used to better inform the future placement or enhancement of crossing structures for use by black bear. This will be important in the continued management of human-wildlife conflict in the most densely population state in the nation.
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URLhttps://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/36427
Languageen_US
PublisherUniversity of Delaware
TitleAMERICAN BLACK BEAR (URSUS AMERICANUS) USE OF HIGHWAY UNDERPASSES IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY
TypeThesis
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