We’ve all experienced the sickening sight of a dead animal on the side of the road. Deer, opossums, raccoons, and even bears are just not evolved to avoid vehicles. Our human need for speed causes countless deaths. But there are some major efforts out there to cut back on these tragic occurrences. Overpasses and underpasses are being built on highways across the U.S. to give safe passage to animals.
Interstate 90 in Washington State passes through the Cascade Mountains, some of the wildest places in the country. Elk, deer, moose, wolves, and grizzly reside in the area and too many come into contact with the interstate and cars that speed by at 70 miles per hour. The four lanes don’t just endanger animals that happen to be in the area; they also cut through major north-south migration routes.
But thanks to a collaboration of conservationists, government, and citizens, the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project has become the biggest wildlife crossing project in North America and a model for other animal crossing projects.
Watch the documentary Cascade Crossroads here!
After a number of bridges and tunnels were built across U.S. Hwy 93 in Arizona, incidents of vehicles hitting bighorn sheep went down to almost zero. Fences along the highway funnel the animals towards the bridges and allow them to safely roam a larger territory. In addressing the issue for sheep, other animals benefited like coyotes, tortoises, foxes, and most likely others that leave no trace of their passing.
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Though construction of over/underpasses is increasing and more are desperately needed, animal crossings are nothing new. At 10 inches high and 6 inches wide, tunnels for the spotted salamanders may be the smallest wildlife crossings out there. In the 1980s, a road in North Amherst, Massachusetts blocked these small amphibians from safely reaching their mating grounds each Spring. But concerned locals and an experimental tunnel system provided new opportunities for the salamanders as well as other small wildlife.
And now, a new 15-mile stretch of Interstate 11 in Nevada includes four underpasses and one overpass to safely funnel wildlife across. Being sensitive to the various needs of different animals, the overpasses offer open air and a climb that sheep are drawn to while tunnels offer more cover for tentative species. Including wildlife crossings in new construction is a positive model for future infrastructure planning.
As human encroachment and climate change increasingly stress animal populations, these bridges and tunnels are a way to take the pressure off. And it’s working. Data from radio collars and motion activated cameras has shown the crossings are used and that everyone benefits.
Great article & great minds behind the concept of saving countless animals from being slaughtered by motorists. And I agree with other commentators that lowering the speed limit at dawn/dusk would save even more lives. Driving tests should contain questions regarding what time of the day/season more animals are bound to be crossing roads & why it is so very important to slow down & scan both sides of the road.
WONDERFUL idea — thank you so much for your creativity, rationality and compassion — again, GREAT IDEA.
Thank you for wildlife bridges and tunnels. Keep building them ! My blessings.
An interesting read, thanks.
what a great idea ! now to get them made all over the U. S. anything we can do to save the animal population should be done! it’s not fair to any animal to be slaughtered by humans driving in cars , just because they want to cross the road. this is something that has been needed for years and I hope it’s done everywhere to help save the animal populations.
Is there a way that these tunnels can be set up all over the United States, I live in the Northeast where countless bear, moose, deer, foxes are mowed down by uncaring motorists.
The big rigs are the worst offenders as they drive on rt 91 & 89 at breakneck speeds unconcerned about the animals they hit.
Baby deer die following their mom as they cross the highway. There were 20 baby deer dead after they raised the speed limit to 70mph and police stopped watching for speeding so they go even faster. They need to lower the speed limit at night and at sunset/sunrise. It makes me sad to see the dead animals on the highway/roads. There is not enough wildlife/nature. Lowering the speed limit may save human/animal lives and keep all safe.
I drove through British Columbia in 2012. There were countless overpasses for the wildlife to cross. It was wonderful
Thank goodness someone in positions of power cares for wildlife in those areas.
Thank you Nevada. Let’s hope other states follow on.
There are two vegetated animal overpasses on I-78 in New Jersey – that’s what I’m familiar with. There is a high fence that funnels animals to the cross-overs. They have been very successful in reducing animal hits AND vehicle damage.
A WIN-WIN for sure. These overpasses should be constructed over every highway in our country.
There’s a petition for a vegetated overpass in the Santa Monica Mountains to help keep the cougar population safer. They’ve lost half the population, and now inbreeding is further damaging these cats. A once-healthy population that had corridors to keep the DNA fresh, is now stuck in one place, and die trying to leave.
CalTrans has been talking for years about building an overpass, and is still just talking.
Info : http://www.dot.ca.gov/d7/projects/libertycanyon/ AND https://savelacougars.org
If you’re interested in helping keep animals safe from human encroachment, here’s some links :
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/307/198/583/caltrans-start-building-a-wildlife-bridge-in-los-angeles-now/
https://www.care2.com/causes/litter-of-inbred-mountain-lion-kittens-discovered-in-l-a-mountains.html#15368746264972&action=expand_widget&id=0&data=
Please, if you care about our forgotten wildlife, sign AND share – you are their voice!
Thanks!
Well done, Nevada. Anything at all to help wild animals. I hope other states follow suit.
This is such a fabulous idea. The first such bridges I knew of were in Canada. They had used sand which (public rumor said) was raked smooth every so often to monitor whether or not the animals were using the bridges. Indeed bears and other wildlife were making use of the bridges.
I’ll never forget once when I was driving at night on an entrance ramp at about 45 mph. There was a raccoon waiting patiently by the side of the road for me to proceed past him. My headlights were on. He clearly understood that the headlights were emanating from the noisy machine coming his way. Once the headlights passed, he stepped out just in time to find himself under my right front tire. I felt terrible. The poor raccoon did not understand that the headlights were being propelled by a big, hulking vehicle that was his doom.
This is a great idea it could stop a lot of animals dying before they are old.
I’ve often thought that all highways should have these.
I’ve often thought that all highways should have these.