01763975

Component

https://annualmeeting.myt...nlineProgram/Details/15790

White-Nose Syndrome and increased disturbance of habitats used by bats for roosting and foraging has led to a growing concern about the bat population in the US in the last decade. Bridge repair and replacement projects are required to follow additional regulatory requirements to avoid and minimize impacts to bats when protected bat species are present on bridges. Some of these requirements (e.g., timing restrictions) are challenging to implement, given Minnesota’s short construction season. The objective of this project was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of deploying non-lethal ultrasonic acoustic devices in the field to temporarily deter bats from roosting on bridges ahead of construction or maintenance activities, while minimizing harm to bats and non-target species. The technology was evaluated at two test sites located in Minnesota, one short term and one long term, during the summer of 2019. Considering the findings from both acoustic monitoring data and the field inspections, acoustic deterrents appear to effectively work to temporarily deter bats from select abutments and present an option to temporarily deter bats at construction sites. The implementation of this technology by any transportation agency will require the development of an agency protocol, through collaboration of relevant offices.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AEP70 Standing Committee on Environmental Analysis and Ecology.

TRBAM-21-02774

English

18p

2021

Transportation Research Board 100th Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; Photos; References; Tables

Bridge construction; Bridge management systems; Bridges; Habitat (Ecology); Ultrasonics; Wildlife

Minnesota

Bridges and other structures; Construction; Environment; Highways

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2021 Paper #TRBAM-21-02774

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Dec 23 2020 11:16AM