USDOT Awards $125 Million in Grants for Wildlife Crossings Projects Across the United States

Road Trips To Be Safer With U.S. $125 Million Wildlife Crossing Grants

In a significant step towards improving road safety and preserving endangered wildlife species, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced a whopping $125 million in grants for wildlife crossing projects across the country. These investments will not only reduce the risk of vehicle accidents but also ensure the survival of threatened and endangered species.

The Maine Department of Transportation is set to receive a grant worth $9.3 million for its Caribou Wildlife and Aquatic Habitat Crossings Project, which aims to build a wildlife crossing with a pre-cast concrete arch culvert to connect three undeveloped habitat blocks. The project will eliminate two existing barriers for wildlife and fish passage, ultimately providing a safer and more connected habitat for moose, deer, and other species.

Similarly, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has been awarded $25 million to support its U.S. Route 64 Red Wolf Crossings Project. This vital initiative will install multiple wildlife underpasses and fencing along U.S. Route 64 within the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in Dare County. The project is crucial for the conservation of endangered red wolves, whose population has dwindled to just 17-19 individuals in the wild.

It’s astonishing that only 164 per year cross the main roadway from the town into rural Caribou, highlighting the need for such infrastructure. In the past five years alone, six Red Wolves have been killed on U.S. Route 64 due to vehicle strikes, including a breeding male and his five young pups just recently in June 2024.

These grants will not only safeguard the lives of humans but also ensure the continuation of endangered species. With such initiatives, we can create a better future for both humans and wildlife by promoting safer roadways and preserving biodiversity.

As Ben Prater, Southeast program director for Defenders of Wildlife, emphasized, “We know the benefits wildlife corridors can provide to species traversing our state’s roadways, and perhaps none are in more need of safe passage than Red Wolves. In the face of environmental changes that are increasingly transforming and fragmenting the landscape, this funding comes at a critical time.”

The impact of these grants will be far-reaching, not just for the animals affected but also for local communities and travelers alike.

Source: www.forbes.com