DENVER – The Biden Administration’s investment of $125 million in 16 wildlife crossing projects across the country will reconnect wildlife habitat and reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions. This is the second year that the Wildlife Corridor Crossing Pilot Program has invested in projects to improve safety on the nation’s highways and roads. There are more than one million wildlife-vehicle collisions every year in the United States. 

“This important pilot program funds state and Indigenous wildlife crossing projects so that fragmented habitat can be restored and wildlife can move safely across landscapes that are increasingly impacted by climate change and expanding infrastructure,” said Jeremy Romero, wildlife connectivity manager at the National Wildlife Federation. “The federal government has shown tremendous leadership in collaborating with Indigenous, state, and local leaders to make our roads safer for wildlife and motorists alike.” 

The National Wildlife Federation and its affiliates have been involved in supporting a number of these projects, including the Sandia-Jemez Mountain Wildlife Corridor Crossings Project on the Santa Ana Pueblo in New Mexico that will help safeguard mule deer, elk, pronghorn, black bears and mountain lions. The North Carolina Wildlife Federation is working to safeguard red wolf, black bear, and white-talied deer populations through the awarded US-64 Red Wolf Crossings Project in North Carolina. 

“North Carolina Wildlife Federation hails this news and applauds the collaboration between our state wildlife and transportation agencies and fish wildlife service for seeking creative and needed solutions to protect wildlife and motorists in one of the most unique ecosystems on the East Coast,” said Tim Gestwicki, executive officer at the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. “This is a positive move for ensuring endangered red wolf recovery as well as protecting one of the densest black bear populations in the world.”

In addition, the National Wildlife Federation and its affiliates supported the grant winners in Arizona, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, and Montana. Funding for the pilot program came from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocated $350 million for wildlife crossing and related projects over five years.