Use of Collapsible Bollards in National Wildlife Trails

How are bollards used in the design of our national wildlife trails and what are their various uses? Conservation efforts in many regions of the country are asking landowners and property managers to be aware of how fences around underdeveloped areas, wild lands and rural properties can inhibit wildlife from moving freely to water resources. This is causing habitat fragmentation. In order to support local wildlife leaders of agriculture preservation and open spaces are warning landowners and residents nearby wildlife trails and habitats. Improper fencing for these areas is harmful to the existence of native wildlife that naturally occurs in these areas because:

• wildlife is losing access to their food and water resources
• entrapment or hanging can occur on this type of fencing
• animal populations are suffering due to genetic isolation
• fences leave animals vulnerable to entrapment during drought, wildfires and disease
• the local wildlife could become extinct

 

Traffic Bollard Solutions to Save Wildlife

The best possible solution for this type of wildlife fencing being suggested at this time is bollards. The preferred solution is the use of bollards because they protect and promote the free movement of wildlife that needs continuous access on either side of the barricades. The bollards are still performing their function of impeding off-road traffic, and other vehicles from trespassing. Districts that hold conservation easements to specifically protected scenic resources, natural resources, and recreational values, are strongly suggesting the use of bollards to protect and restrict property access. Bollards or barrier posts are an effective, eye-catching method of controlling off-road vehicles as well as vehicles that may simple get turned around or lost. Using a barrier chain to connect bollards is an approved aesthetic method of guiding vehicles and pedestrians while protecting cattle and dairy grazing areas around active agricultural operations. Using these types of wildlife friendly barriers are also cost effective and blends into environmentally scenic areas. Wildlife preservation authorities also approve use of bollards as markers.

Bollards as a Safe Alternative to Fences

In other parts of the country, wildlife from nearby woodlands and national forests have been getting entrapped by wire fencing. There is a bulletin circulating in reference to "Wildlife Fence-Death Syndrome,” with photographic evidence that deer are getting themselves hung up and incapacitated by inappropriate wire barriers. Migrations of wild animals throughout the seasons, from ski-slope acreage areas to prairies and plains are being saved by the environmentally safe use of bollards to replace these fencing hazards. There is much work to be done presently to get information out to landowners, property managers, and caretakers that wildlife trails can be made safe with affordable bollard barriers. These bollard posts are also made to be collapsible so when official vehicles like fire trucks, law enforcement, emergency crews, and rangers need access trails can be made passable. For more information on using bollard steel posts in woodland areas, please contact TrafficGuard Direct today.