(WTC) (e.g. Becker and Grauvogel 1991; Jaren et al. 1991; Muzzi and Bisset
1990).
The first known study in the Czech Republic dealing with the influence of
railways on animals was the study by Havlín (1987), which focused on animal
mortality caused by railways in the agrarian landscape. A 314-km long railway line
in the South Moravia Region was studied between 1981 and 1986. In that period,
91 birds (19 species) and 149 mammals (11 species) were killed. The most common species were European hare (Lepus europaeus) and common pheasant
(Phasianus colchicus).
Another well-known study in the Czech Republic was carried out on the track
between Trhový Štěpánov and Benešov u Prahy (Jankovský and Čech 2001). The
track is 33 km long and it crosses many very different habitats and therefore enables
a more comprehensive view of the impacts of railways. The first research on this
track was carried out in the winter of 1999–2000. The research was based on field
trips and analysis of skeletal findings of animals killed by train. The results show
that Leporidae were hit in 32% of cases, Even-toed ungulates in 22% [in the vast
majority of cases, roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)], Carnivora in 18%, Birds in
10%, Insectivora in 4% and Reptiles in 2%. The findings of physical remnants were
tied to those sections where the track does not form a significant barrier height,
whether by an embankment or a cutting. At areas significantly banked and often
vegetated by shrubs, many pheasant carcasses were found. In May 2006, repeated
research was carried out on the track between Trhový Štěpánov and Benešov u
Prahy which, among other findings, found an increase in the mortality of roe deer
(Jankovský and Čech 2008).
Kušta et al. (2014b) published the results of the monitoring of roe deer deaths in
2009 on four train tracks (regional as well as local): (1) Plzeň–Horažďovice;
(2) Bělčice–Závišín; (3) Obrataň–Jindřichův Hradec; (4) Dobrá Voda u
Pelhřimova–Hříběcí. The research showed that collisions of trains with roe deer
occur most frequently in winter. The results of this study show that when evaluating
animal mortality the specific context should be taken into account (location, climatic conditions, animal abundance in the location, its biology and ethology,
railway transport intensity, etc.). For example, on the monitored track Dobrá Voda
u Pelhřimova–Hříběcí, collisions with roe deer occurred most often in summer
months, while on the track Jedlová–Chřibská in winter months. Both tracks lie at
approximately the same altitude (650 m a.s.l.) and about the same number of trains
use them weekly (132 and 197).
Interestingly, railway accidents most often occur in winter, while accidents on
roads occur less frequently in winter (Hothorn et al. 2012; Kušta et al. 2014a; Kušta
et al. 2017; Pokorný 2006). Therefore railway transport can influence animal
behaviour in a different way than road transport. It is necessary to look for the
reasons why accidents happen so often in this season. In the Czech Republic it may
be due to the attractive food availability, which is in the immediate vicinity of the
tracks in the winter (wild raspberry bushes, etc.). This explanation is also supported
in other studies (Bowman et al. 2010; Rea et al. 2010; Marchand 1996). In the
15 Railway Ecology—Experiences and Examples in the Czech Republic
253
1990).
The first known study in the Czech Republic dealing with the influence of
railways on animals was the study by Havlín (1987), which focused on animal
mortality caused by railways in the agrarian landscape. A 314-km long railway line
in the South Moravia Region was studied between 1981 and 1986. In that period,
91 birds (19 species) and 149 mammals (11 species) were killed. The most common species were European hare (Lepus europaeus) and common pheasant
(Phasianus colchicus).
Another well-known study in the Czech Republic was carried out on the track
between Trhový Štěpánov and Benešov u Prahy (Jankovský and Čech 2001). The
track is 33 km long and it crosses many very different habitats and therefore enables
a more comprehensive view of the impacts of railways. The first research on this
track was carried out in the winter of 1999–2000. The research was based on field
trips and analysis of skeletal findings of animals killed by train. The results show
that Leporidae were hit in 32% of cases, Even-toed ungulates in 22% [in the vast
majority of cases, roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)], Carnivora in 18%, Birds in
10%, Insectivora in 4% and Reptiles in 2%. The findings of physical remnants were
tied to those sections where the track does not form a significant barrier height,
whether by an embankment or a cutting. At areas significantly banked and often
vegetated by shrubs, many pheasant carcasses were found. In May 2006, repeated
research was carried out on the track between Trhový Štěpánov and Benešov u
Prahy which, among other findings, found an increase in the mortality of roe deer
(Jankovský and Čech 2008).
Kušta et al. (2014b) published the results of the monitoring of roe deer deaths in
2009 on four train tracks (regional as well as local): (1) Plzeň–Horažďovice;
(2) Bělčice–Závišín; (3) Obrataň–Jindřichův Hradec; (4) Dobrá Voda u
Pelhřimova–Hříběcí. The research showed that collisions of trains with roe deer
occur most frequently in winter. The results of this study show that when evaluating
animal mortality the specific context should be taken into account (location, climatic conditions, animal abundance in the location, its biology and ethology,
railway transport intensity, etc.). For example, on the monitored track Dobrá Voda
u Pelhřimova–Hříběcí, collisions with roe deer occurred most often in summer
months, while on the track Jedlová–Chřibská in winter months. Both tracks lie at
approximately the same altitude (650 m a.s.l.) and about the same number of trains
use them weekly (132 and 197).
Interestingly, railway accidents most often occur in winter, while accidents on
roads occur less frequently in winter (Hothorn et al. 2012; Kušta et al. 2014a; Kušta
et al. 2017; Pokorný 2006). Therefore railway transport can influence animal
behaviour in a different way than road transport. It is necessary to look for the
reasons why accidents happen so often in this season. In the Czech Republic it may
be due to the attractive food availability, which is in the immediate vicinity of the
tracks in the winter (wild raspberry bushes, etc.). This explanation is also supported
in other studies (Bowman et al. 2010; Rea et al. 2010; Marchand 1996). In the
15 Railway Ecology—Experiences and Examples in the Czech Republic
253