An innovative temporary escape ramp for deer and other wildlife

Concrete-lined water conveyance canals can be a significant source of mortality for ungulates and other wildlife, which can drown or become entrapped. Various types of wildlife escape structures have been deployed in canals with limited success. From 2011 to 2018, we used camera traps to monitor mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) use of three different temporary wildlife escape structure designs with the goal of developing an effective escape structure for fawns. We monitored three to five locations at a hydroelectric water conveyance canal, operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company in the foothills of Central California on the Sierra National Forest, in which trapped fawns had been detected previously during the maintenance period when the canal was dry. Mule deer activity and ramp use varied by year. During the monitoring period, deer were detected in the canal in all years except 2016 and 2017. Fawns and adults used the temporary escape structures to exit the canal in four of these years and 50% of mule deer detections showed ramp use overall. No deer were detected using the escape structures until jute netting and debris were added to the surface of the escape ramps in the third monitoring year. Prior to this modification, fawns were detected trapped in the canal investigating the ramps, but not using them to exit the canal. Deer may be more likely to utilize ramps covered with materials that mimic native ground cover. Seven other wildlife species were detected entering and exiting using the ramps with a general increase in use over years. Our temporary escape ramp design for small canals, when dry, appears to be novel and may be applicable in other areas. When compared to fencing or covering the canal, it is a relatively low-cost solution to reduce animal entrapment.