The US Department of Transportation is rolling out funding for wildlife crossings along busy roads. This is part of a larger effort to reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions, which kill an estimated 350 million animals each year in the US. The funding will also be used to improve habitat connectivity and protect animals from climate change.
The first round of grants will be issued this year, and the funding will be rolled out over the next five years. The program is open to state and local governments, as well as Native American tribes.
To determine the best locations for crossings, some states are tracking local wildlife. In New Mexico, for example, wildlife managers have been collecting data on the movement of animals across the area. They have documented casualties along busy highways that cut through tribal boundaries. By collaring mountain lions, bear, elk and other species over the last decade, they have collected more than one quarter of a million GPS location points. That data has helped to create maps showing where animals want to cross.
The development of more crossings will create climate refuges for animals like these, as well as improving safety. “What we’re seeing is wildlife moving into new areas,” says US Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, a New Mexico Democrat. “And so projects like this will help wildlife reconnect on the land to historic spaces and the spaces that will sustain them ecologically as they’re facing climate change.”
The funding for wildlife crossings is a positive step towards protecting animals and improving safety on our roads. It is important to continue to invest in these projects so that we can create a more sustainable future for both humans and wildlife.
