Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration

Wildlife Protection

Deterring Wildlife from Highways


Specially designed fencing excludes wildlife from the highway and direct the animals to wildlife crossings. Deer exclusion fencing is eight-feet tall, with an additional one foot buried below ground. An additional three-feet tall, small-mammal exclusion fencing is also attached. Deer escape ramps are designed to encourage deer to leave the roadside if they get inside the fence.


Specially designed fencing Wildlife escape ramp
Specially designed fencing Wildlife escape ramp


green line

Our Highways and Wildlife Protection


The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Appalachian Lab partnered to study wildlife use of existing highway structures. The study demonstrated that many species of wildlife use variously sized structures to cross under Maryland highways. Most of these structures are underpasses, which are associated with stream valleys.

A fox in a cylinder culvert Wildlife tracks
A fox shown using a cylinder culvert Wildlife tracks going through underpasses


green light


MD 200 -the Intercounty Connector (ICC) -and Wildlife Preservation


The ICC has 44 bridges and culverts designed to provide safe passage for deer and small mammals. Culverts carrying streams are also designed to provide aquatic species passage. ICC bridges over parks and streams are longer than normal to lessen the amount of environmental impact in these sensitive areas and to allow greater clearance for wildlife and vegetation.

​ Stream in Culvert Culvert accessible by aquatic and land wildlife
Culvert carries a stream Culvert accessible by aquatic and land wildlife


green line


Wildlife Relocation Efforts


Over 900 Eastern Box Turtles were relocated from the highway construction area to parks with suitable habitat. MDOT SHA partnered with the Towson University Biology Department to study the effectiveness of the relocation efforts. Relocated turtles adapted to their new locations.

Professional biologists worked with volunteers and<br/>students to collect data on relocated turtles

Professional biologists worked with volunteers and
students to collect data on relocated turtles


green line

Publications

​

© Copyright Maryland.gov All rights reserved.

707 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202-3601
Main Business Line: 410-545-0300 | 1-800-323-6742
For emergencies, call MDOT SHA's Statewide Operations Center at 410-582-5650