As expected with many animal crossings, there is a Keep Out sign. Human animals, please take care when visiting other animals. This particular sign warns of a construction area. The
Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority is monitoring this area. Hopefully, residential encroachment will be minimized.
During the environmental studies which took place before the extension of Terry Fox Drive was built, it was discovered that harm would be done to the environment of a species at risk, the Blanding's turtles. One hundred Blanding's turtles were counted in the South March Highlands and the Kizell drainage areas. The movements of the turtles were tracked. Ten crossings under Terry Fox Drive were designed and constructed.
As part of a Wildlife Guide System (WSG), ten long box culverts were built under the four lane road. Three skylights were created in each culvert tunnel, allowing sunshine and improved airflow to warm up the concrete walls and cobblestone-and-gravel-and-soil floors for the cold-blooded animals. Stone walls and animal fencing was built between the tunnels, directing the animals to the crossings. This was likely the first time in Ontario that a WSG was developed before the road was built.
This particular crossing (culvert CV3A) connects two water features, the eastern edge of the Carp River and the Kizell drainage area. Two other nearby animal-crossing culverts also connect these water features. The east entrance to CV3A is the best spot for photography and for viewing the animals.
Both the east and west entrances to culvert CV3A (72 metres apart) are cut into stone guard walls which prevent animals from leaving the low-lying areas and heading towards the busy and dangerous road. The guard walls are covered with overhanging cap stones which prevent animals from scaling the walls themselves. A young willow tree grows in front of the east entrance, welcoming land animals to the crossing tunnel which is lighted by three skylights, two in the roadside curbs and one squared shaft nearer to the Carp River. Culverts CV3B and CV3C carry more water. Those culverts are difficult to photograph.
The water pools in front of the east entrance to culvert CV3A. Fish are easy to see there. Heron are often noted standing in this water, enjoying the food.
After the extension to Terry Fox Drive was opened to traffic in 2010, the Dillon Consulting group spent three years monitoring the animal traffic through the crossings and the reduction in road kills on Terry Fox Drive. Dillon Consulting's Wildlife Guide System Monitoring Study (2014) is available on line.
According to that study, raccoons are the animals most frequently using culvert CV3A. Culverts CV3B and CV3C are too wet for the raccoons. Of the other animals reported to use crossing CV3A, frogs are the second most common followed by snakes, salamanders, groundhogs, fishers, muskrat and mice. Interestingly, the study did not document any Blanding's turtles using crossings CV3A, CV3B or CV3C.
Parking is best just off the side of Terry Fox Drive southbound. Look for the three squared cement shafts west of Terry Fox Drive. These shafts are skylights for the three crossing tunnels.
N 45° 19.191 W 075° 56.848