We’ve got a lot of problems. Not just behind the Blue Door 😝, we’re talking about all of us. If you follow any news outlet anywhere in the world, you’re probably aware of some of those problems.

But, as you know, we like to focus on solutions.

We’ve mentioned our population is growing larger by the day, which makes a lot of people nervous. But more heads also means more creative solutions.

We love creative solutions. 

There’s one in particular that we’d like to introduce to you today: wildlife bridges.

You may know this, but wild animals and cars don’t mix very well. Every year in the US there are between one and two million wildlife-vehicle collisions. Unfortunately, in most cases the animal does not survive. Over 25,000 humans are injured in these collisions each year and estimates of the yearly cost of these incidents is over 8 billion dollars. 

Yikes.

Add to that the impacts on vulnerable and endangered animals. In the US alone there are 21 endangered species whose very survival is jeopardized by car collisions including key deer in Florida, bighorn sheep in California, and red-bellied turtles in Alabama.  

That adds up to one gigantic problem. 

But, of course, there is a solution. One that is creative and rooted in science. 

Can you feel us smiling? We’re smiling. 

Wildlife bridges, green bridges, ecoducts; all of these terms refer to structures built by humans designed to allow safe passage for wildlife over or under our roads, keeping them (and us) safe from harm. 

The idea was pioneered in Europe with the first bridges and tunnels being built in the 1950’s. Some are simply overpasses lined with grass and trees. Others go under our roadways and include small pools of water to better service our semi-aquatic friends.

You can find them mostly in the UK and North America, but as studies continue to prove their effectiveness, the idea continues to spread. As of this year you can now find similar eco-infrastructure in Australia, Brazil, China, Africa, and Japan among other countries.

The best part?

They work really well. 

Banff National Park in Canada has been monitoring the effectiveness of their wildlife corridors for 30 years. They have seen an 80% decrease in animal mortality associated with vehicle crashes. 

Other studies show that in some places animal fatalities can decrease by up to 95%. 

 A creative solution that protects lives, both animal and human, while also protecting our pockets.

We call that a win-win-win.

Share this with an animal lover!