The correlation between final feelings and ungulate vehicle collisions

Abstract: The purpose with this study, is to study the correlations between the ungulate vehicle collisions and the final fellings in the forestry. The report is a bachelor thesis at Skogsmästarskolan at the Swedish university of agricultural sciences. When a final felling is performed an area is exposed in the landscape, which is an encroachment on the wildlife’s habitat and living environment. The hypothesis in the study is that a final felling might lead to a change in the ungulate vehicle collisions frequency. The effect of the final felling might be an attraction of ungulates due to an increase of available food or a distraction since the ungulates shelter decrease and hereby their tendency to stay in the area. The correlations can differ on diverse levels such as local, landscape and county levels as well between the ungulates. To study the correlations, a database has been created with data of the ungulate vehicle collisions for Sweden’s 21 counties. The frequency of collisions has been compared with the final fellings data at county level. In addition, the collision statistics was also compared with final fellings at landscape level, a buffer zone of 2 km from the roads. To gather local level, a buffer zone with a range of 500 meter from the roads was made. Both landscape and local level were studied within the counties. The data of final fellings was gathered from Skogsstyrelsen. The average numbers of police reports of moose collisions from 2010-2016 presented a significant positive correlation (R²=0,2451, n=21, t=2,48 p<0,0225) with the areas of final fellings. In counties with more areas of final fellings more moose collisions occur. As one zooms in from county level to local level the correlations increase remarkably (R²=0,5239, n=21, t=1,72, p<0,0002). This indicates that final fellings nearby roads might increase the risk of a moose collision. For wild boar, a significant correlation was achieved at county level (R²=0,284, n=21, t=-2,75, p<0,0129). This correlation was however negative which indicates that counties with more area of final fellings might expect less wild boar collisions. As one zooms in to local level the significant connection dissolve. The cause of this dissolved correlation might be connected to the choice of habitat for wild boar which differs from the habitat choice of moose. These two species, moose and wild boar, were the only with statistical significance in the study. The method of this study was not optimal to prove the final fellings importance for the ungulate vehicle collisions. The present study compared the number of ungulate vehicle collisions at county level with areas of final fellings within the counties but also nearby roads within the distances of 2 km and 500 meters from the roads. The data material however, is limited and several disturbing factors make these