In the Czech countryside it is common practice to give supplementary feed to
game in the winter season. Knowledge of this feeding can be used to reduce
migration and therefore even collisions (Kušta et al. 2017). It is important to place
feeding devices near animal resting areas so that they do not have to migrate in
search of food in winter, or even have to search for it intensively. Feeding devices
should never be placed near railways, which would enable animals to concentrate
near them.
Also, around railway tracks where the animals occur in higher numbers, very
intense hunting should be practiced within the hunting plan in the given territory.
On the contrary, hunting should be reduced in areas where there is no danger of
WTC or wildlife-vehicle collision (WVC). In game management this corresponds
to establishing so-called quiet zones: there is no hunting, peace and quiet is ensured
and food is supplied intensively. Suitable conditions for animals should also be
created in these locations (e.g. planting appropriate woody plants, planting feeding
field, etc.). Animals are then focused into them and protected. They can thus be
detained in a certain place, which will prevent their migration in search of food
across railway tracks. The results of the study Kušta et al. (2017) show that when
animals have suitable resting, cover and feeding conditions, they limit their physical
activity to a minimum.
In the vicinity of transport infrastructure (road and railway) there are often hiking
trails, country lanes, or the area is used for recreation (walking, dog walking, etc.).
Thus, resting animals are often disturbed and forced to cross a road or railway in
their escape, which may result in a collision with a passing vehicle or train. Peace
and quiet must be guaranteed, especially in winter, which is extremely
energy-intensive for animals. For this reason, it is undesirable to let dogs move
freely when walking in the countryside in this period, especially around roads and
railways; in the Czech Republic there are very often successional areas with sparse
vegetation or woody plants growing outside the forest, and the animals rest there
(Keken et al. 2016).
A practical tool for reducing collisions with animals also appears to be removing
vegetation from the immediate vicinity of the tracks (deciduous trees, herbs,
brambles) and trimming browsing trees that are very attractive to animals from the
food point of view (Jaren et al. 1991) and also growing unattractive plant species
along railway tracks (Jaren et al. 1991; Gundersen and Andreassen 1998; Lavsund
and Sandegren 1991). Some studies demonstrated a reduction of animal mortality
due to a decrease in food supply along the tracks, for example a 56% reduction in
collisions on a railway studied in Norway (Jaren et al. 1991). The measure consisted
of the removal of vegetation 20–30 m along the train track. However, Sielecki
(2000) states that this method is very costly.
256
Z. Keken and T. Kušta
game in the winter season. Knowledge of this feeding can be used to reduce
migration and therefore even collisions (Kušta et al. 2017). It is important to place
feeding devices near animal resting areas so that they do not have to migrate in
search of food in winter, or even have to search for it intensively. Feeding devices
should never be placed near railways, which would enable animals to concentrate
near them.
Also, around railway tracks where the animals occur in higher numbers, very
intense hunting should be practiced within the hunting plan in the given territory.
On the contrary, hunting should be reduced in areas where there is no danger of
WTC or wildlife-vehicle collision (WVC). In game management this corresponds
to establishing so-called quiet zones: there is no hunting, peace and quiet is ensured
and food is supplied intensively. Suitable conditions for animals should also be
created in these locations (e.g. planting appropriate woody plants, planting feeding
field, etc.). Animals are then focused into them and protected. They can thus be
detained in a certain place, which will prevent their migration in search of food
across railway tracks. The results of the study Kušta et al. (2017) show that when
animals have suitable resting, cover and feeding conditions, they limit their physical
activity to a minimum.
In the vicinity of transport infrastructure (road and railway) there are often hiking
trails, country lanes, or the area is used for recreation (walking, dog walking, etc.).
Thus, resting animals are often disturbed and forced to cross a road or railway in
their escape, which may result in a collision with a passing vehicle or train. Peace
and quiet must be guaranteed, especially in winter, which is extremely
energy-intensive for animals. For this reason, it is undesirable to let dogs move
freely when walking in the countryside in this period, especially around roads and
railways; in the Czech Republic there are very often successional areas with sparse
vegetation or woody plants growing outside the forest, and the animals rest there
(Keken et al. 2016).
A practical tool for reducing collisions with animals also appears to be removing
vegetation from the immediate vicinity of the tracks (deciduous trees, herbs,
brambles) and trimming browsing trees that are very attractive to animals from the
food point of view (Jaren et al. 1991) and also growing unattractive plant species
along railway tracks (Jaren et al. 1991; Gundersen and Andreassen 1998; Lavsund
and Sandegren 1991). Some studies demonstrated a reduction of animal mortality
due to a decrease in food supply along the tracks, for example a 56% reduction in
collisions on a railway studied in Norway (Jaren et al. 1991). The measure consisted
of the removal of vegetation 20–30 m along the train track. However, Sielecki
(2000) states that this method is very costly.
256
Z. Keken and T. Kušta