Before the Grand Opening, Wildlife Already Took Over! 🦌 California’s $20 Million Animal Bridge Scores Its First Success
Nation News | World
California’s first dedicated wildlife overpass is making headlines even before its official opening. In Siskiyou County, three mule deer and a bobcat have already been spotted safely crossing the bridge while construction is still underway.
The $20 million overpass spans State Route 97, a highway where more than 50 deer and 16 elk were killed in vehicle collisions between 2015 and 2020. The project aims to reconnect fragmented habitats while reducing dangerous crashes involving wildlife.
Officials have installed around 100 monitoring cameras to study how animals use the crossing. Once completed, the overpass will provide a safe route for gray wolves, elk, mountain lions, black bears, mule deer, and many other species.
Wildlife crossings have already proven successful in reducing animal-vehicle collisions across North America. California is also building several more, including the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over Highway 101, which is expected to become the world's largest wildlife crossing.
💬 Your Opinion:
If animals are already using this bridge before it's officially finished, should more highways around the world build wildlife crossings to protect both people and wildlife?
#NationNews #Wildlife #California #WildlifeCrossing #Nature #Conservation #RoadSafety #Environment #WorldNews #TrendingNews
