As she rides her bicycle along a 12-mile stretch of State Route 37 between Ogdensburg and Alexandria Bay, Emily Yousey’s eyes scan the road for signs of roadkill. She rounds a corner and quickly stops as a raccoon comes into sight—one of the many animals inadvertently losing its life to passing cars in Northern New York.
The rural state highway, a major intersection for wildlife traveling north and south near the Canadian border, has been the research site for Yousey ’25 this summer as she works with Dr. Kate Cleary and a group of Clarkson University students on a road ecology project being conducted in conjunction with the Algonquin to Adirondack (A2A) Collaborative.
Focused on identifying sections of State Route 37 and State Route 12 with the most wildlife activity, the study will inform decisions about where to create wildlife crossings between the Adirondacks and Canada’s Algonquin Park.
“There’s a lot of wildlife that moves between these regions. We’re trying to preserve the animals that live there and the ecosystems stretching between Canada and the United States,” Yousey said. “By finding where the roadkill is located, in the future, we can implement underpasses or overpasses so animals can safely travel across the road.”
The team has also been collaborating with the New York State Department of Transportation for this project, to make sure that these wildlife crossings also benefit humans by reducing the likelihood of accidents.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, Yousey and Clarkson University student Malvern Dongo have been traveling along the two state highways through whatever weather conditions mother nature throws their way. At the first sign of a deceased animal, they hop off their bikes and use the Field Maps App on their phones to record the location and other relevant information about the animal.
“My favorite part is just getting to be outside. We pass through marshy areas and wide-open fields where I’ve seen blue herons and ravens. I love just seeing new creatures and I love animals,” she said. “Everything we find is documented and recorded. A lot of what we find are frogs. We also see mice, voles, deer, birds, skunks, lots of raccoons, and we found a vulture,” Yousey said.
Back in the lab, Yousey analyzes the data using ArcGIS Pro alongside students in Clarkson University’s CEM Consulting Group (C3G). “That software lets us visualize all the data and allows and put it on a map so we can figure out where the most roadkill is located, where they’re crossing, and that helps us find where the [natural wildlife] corridors are from Canada to the United States,” she said.
The paid internship experience has been the most significant applied learning experience of Yousey’s life, and an exciting opportunity to collaborate with one of her professors and mentors at the College. “Dr. Cleary is passionate about wildlife and the project. It’s great working with someone who loves what they do. I’ve taken two classes with her and it’s the same thing, she shows up eager to teach us with passion and intelligence. Working under her is an honor. I’m so happy that she hired me,” she said.
Through conversations with her friends, Yousey has been sharing stories from her unique research project, the A2A collaborative, and the importance of biodiversity corridors between the U.S. and Canada. “It’s funny, many people tell me now, ‘Oh I was driving, and I saw some roadkill and I thought of you,’” Yousey joked. “I feel like people get thrown off by the idea of roadkill, but for us, it’s just about studying animals. I love animals and it doesn’t faze me. Also, I have a strong stomach.”
As she wraps up her research project this summer, she will head back to campus to complete her degree in biology, where she will also ramp up her physical activity for her final year on the cross country and track and field teams.
“I’ve been doing cross country and track since the seventh grade. I ended up loving it in middle school and high school. Eventually, I emailed SUNY Potsdam’s coach, and I joined the team, and I still love it. It's A big part of why I love SUNY Potsdam too. It takes a lot of discipline and hard work if you want to be good at it,” she said.
During the Spring 2024 semester, just weeks before Commencement, Yousey will share her road ecology research with students, faculty, and staff at the College’s Learning and Research Fair. “The Potsdam community has been great. I enjoyed being here, the community is strong, and I like the small-town vibe,” she said. “I’m happy I went to school here, especially because it’s a safe place to live, and I’ve met some really good friends.”
Article and photos by Jason Hunter