Assessing Efficacy of Amphibian and Reptile Exclusion Fence (AREF) to Prevent Herpetofauna, with Emphasis on Houston Toad, from Entering Construction Zones

The federally endangered Houston toad (Bufo/Anaxyrus houstonensis) occurs within the Yoakum, Bryan, and Austin TxDOT Districts. When a construction project occurs within the range of the Houston toad, TxDOT must consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under Section 7(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act, unless 3 years of surveys are conducted to determine if the construction area is absent of the Houston toad. TxDOT has developed and is using a toad exclusion fence (TEF) design for preventing the Houston toad from entering construction zones as part of those USFWS consultations. However, the efficacy of the TEF design and use has not been studied in the field. There is also potential to expand the applicability of the TEF to other herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians). TxDOT needs to understand the efficacy of the TEF to prevent herpetofauna from entering TxDOT work areas. It is important for the TEF to exclude herpetofauna to prevent mortality of the Houston toad and other herpetofauna.

• Record URL:
  https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/Presto/project=7078

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $518732
• Contract Numbers:

  0-7078

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Texas Department of Transportation

  125 E. 11th Street
  Austin, TX  United States  78701-2483
• Managing Organizations:

  Texas Department of Transportation

  125 E. 11th Street
  Austin, TX  United States  78701-2483
• Project Managers:

  Pridgen, Shelley

• Performing Organizations:

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135

  Texas A&M University, College Station

  Texas Agrilife Research, 113 Jack K. Williams Administration Building
  2142 TAMU
  College Station, Texas  United States  77843
• Principal Investigators:

  Coulson, Robert

• Start Date: 20201029
• Expected Completion Date: 20220831
• Actual Completion Date: 20220831

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Amphibians; Construction sites; Endangered species; Environmental impacts; Fences; Wildlife
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01766403
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Texas Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 0-7078
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 2 2021 3:43PM