Wildlife across the country may soon benefit from a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla to facilitate safe migration across heavily-trafficked roads – if the new act passes.
The Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act would establish two new initiatives: the Wildlife Movement and Migration Corridor Program and the State and Tribal Migration Research Program, according to a press release from Padilla. The bill prioritizes research and mapping to to help us better understand migration patterns, as well as funding to restore, protect, and improve wildlife corridors – with at least half of the funds to be used for large mammal habitats.
As human populations grow, wild areas tend to shrink. Habitat loss and fragmentation pose a real danger to wildlife, including those who migrate to survive. For example, a bear was caught on camera, dazed and surrounded by moving cars, while attempting to cross a California highway. While the bear thankfully survived, incidents like this illustrate some of the threats migrating animals face.
“Wildlife follow the path that has been bred and programmed into them over generations with no understanding of the distinctions between private and public or federal and state land,” U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke, one of the bill’s sponsors, said in a statement.
Idaho’s first wildlife overpass demonstrates how wildlife corridors allow animals to cross safely between ecosystems. The overpass allowed mule deer to cross above a busy highway and helped to prevent deadly car crashes. After the bridge was built, cameras documented migrating mule deer, a red fox, and other animals using the overpass to travel unharmed, according to Boise State Public Radio.
“With one in five migratory species facing the threat of extinction, recognizing connectivity corridors can help us understand biodiversity loss and better protect the migration patterns of iconic American species, like the Pronghorn,” bill advocate and U.S. Representative Don Beyer said in the press release from Padilla.
With critical habitats at risk of erosion by human expansion and growth, it is likely that more measures like the Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act will be necessary to prevent the future loss of species.
Lady Freethinker commends Senator Padilla and Representatives Zinke and Beyer for advocating for wildlife and a more compassionate future.
