U.S. Launches Major Wildlife Corridor Project to Protect Animals From Busy Roads

(SANTA ANA PUEBLO, N.M.) — Native American tribes, as well as state and local governments will be able to tap into $350 million in infrastructure funds to build wildlife corridors along busy roads and add warning signs for drivers in what federal officials are billing as the first-of-its-kind pilot program to prevent collisions and improve habitat connectivity. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was expected to roll out more details about the program during a visit to Santa Ana Pueblo on Tuesday. Wildlife managers with the New Mexico tribe have documented recent mountain lion casualties along a busy federal highway that cuts through tribal boundaries. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Nationwide, about 200 people are killed each year in collisions involving wildlife and vehicles, federal officials said. Buttigieg said in a statement issued ahead of his announcement that launching the pilot program marks “an important step to prevent deadly crashes in communities across the country and make America’s roadways safer for everyone who uses them.” The dedicated funding includes more than $111 million for the first round of grants that will be issued this year. Read more: Where Mining and Energy Projects Will Hurt Wildlife the Most Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said there are proven practices that can prevent crashes between vehicles and wildlife, and the infrastructure funding will open the door for communities that may no...
Source: TIME: Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Uncategorized animals climate change healthscienceclimate wire Source Type: news