​The I-90 freeway also slices through the Cascade Mountains and connected ecosystems relied upon by treasured wildlife such as elk, wolverine, bear, deer, fox, and myriad species with habitat requirements—much like our own human need to move around our own neighborhoods and get to the grocery store and go about our daily lives.
 
Yet the animals are getting cut off by the I-90 corridor. They’re deterred by the traffic and the noise, for one thing, which affects their ability to roam in search of mates, food, and necessary territory for species survival. And of course, there are wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) every year, causing damage and death to animals and humans. 

Cascade Crossroads is a documentary telling of how the I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition was formed of people from different organizations and people of all persuasions, working  together to develop a forward-thinking plan that included multiple wildlife overpasses and underpasses and whose work became a shining example of what can happen when business, community and government work collaboratively. 

Spearheaded by an organization called Conservation Northwest and a collaborative effort that ultimately involved some 17,000 people and millions of dollars in funding, The Cascades Conservation Partnership helped secure 45,000 protected acres of National Forest Land for reconstruction of I-90. Out of this effort came the Wildlife Bridges Coalition, which included AAA Washington, Sierra Club, and many others. 

Imagine the early days of this group, starting with representatives from road safety and wildlife protection as well as engineers at Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). There was a great deal of mistrust from the start, a lack of acceptance of the environmental engineers, for one, because of their conventional way of doing things. They were challenged with: What would it take to do it differently? To design something with wildlife in mind? 

Deer using underpass, safely avoiding overhead traffic

It took some time. The coalition went out and engaged the public, including young children, by creating the “Bridging Futures Coloring Project.” With kids involved in understanding the importance of connected habitat and wildlife bridges and underpasses, parents became educated and there was an evolution of thinking. Ultimately, when the coalition’s environmental impact statement was published, it received 1300 comments—all favorable and encouraging of ecological connectivity.

Deer using underpass at night, averting dusk and dawn collisions

​The group went on to study snow tracking of animals. They tracked how animals approached the highway, where they stopped, where they went around or tried to cross. Further studies were done in Banff, Canada, which has a total of 44 wildlife crossing structures and since 1996 has engaged in the continuous research and monitoring of these crossings. Based on all of its findings and research, the coalition provided analysis and development recommendations, and much to its surprise, the suggestions were well received and all ideas were opted for. 

At the close of 2019 Snoqualmie Pass East project has seen some of the first wildlife overpasses built and already some wildlife “wins” as seen in the photos of the many elk, deer, and other animals readily using the structures. 

​The Snoqualmie Pass will ultimately include overcrossings and underpasses that are 156-feet wide, 60-feet tall, and span six lanes of traffic. They’ll be fully vegetated so that as wildlife move across they’ll never even know they’re over a highway! To encourage new plant growth, the Forest Service is planting thousands of native plants every year to provide food sources for wildlife and to encourage survival of species. All aspects of the project should be complete by 2029.
 
You can also find out more about the Cascade Crossroads documentary and how to use it to inspire action in your own community.

Like this article? Share it with someone who loves wildlife! And we'd love your feedback and comments below.

​In case you haven’t heard, LA is soon to be home to the largest wildlife bridge on the planet. That’s right, a bridge that’s some 30 years in the making will span 10 lanes of Highway 101 at Liberty Canyon. The 200-foot-high nature bridge will reconnect a segment of the Santa Monica Mountains and an entire ecosystem that has been disrupted by roads and urban sprawl that has led to habitat loss and fragmentation, which has contributed to steady decline and near extinction of the California mountain lion.

​At the annual P-22 Day Festival and Urban Wildlife Week in October to celebrate urban environmentalism and “the Brad Pitt” of California mountain lions—a handsome LA cougar affectionately known as P-22 who has his own Facebook page—Give Wildlife a Brake caught up with the co-director of CLAW (Citizens of Los Angeles for Wildlife), Andrew Lasken, to learn more about the wildlife corridor movement in California. CLAW is leading the way in promoting wildlife protection and also educating the public about the importance of connected habit for wildlife, in Los Angeles and beyond.

Lasken provides a great habit loss and fragmentation definition in this short video clip and also mentions simple solutions for developers, such as “buffers” (not building all the way back to the edge of a plot, but leaving room for animals to move about).

• Connected habitat advocacy. The organization has been instrumental in advocating for a Wildlife Habitat Linkage Zone—to bring attention to open space habitat on private land that could potentially be developed and further disrupt already fragile habitat in the region.

 

• Land preservation for wildlife corridors. Another massive success in reversing habitat loss and fragmentation was the Let’s Buy a Mountain campaign, a coordinated effort between CLAW and conservation partners. A wildlife cam documented myriad species of animals using an existing wildlife corridor, providing evidence for the need to maintain the land as connective habitat. Through fundraising, the organizations were able to purchase 17 acres of land in the Hollywood Hills that will be preserved for generations to come.

 

• Conservation easements. This is an agreement that restricts land from being developed. It is sometimes called a conservation covenant—and it is a binding agreement between current landowners as well as future owners of the land, to ensure the property remains undeveloped.

 

• Acting as a wildlife corridor monitor in the city of Los Angeles. Whenever there is urban planning and development, CLAW is keeping a careful watch for whether the LA Planning Department is taking into consideration wildlife habitat connectivity and any impact that development might have.

On the CLAW website you can find suggestions for how to facilitate wildlife movement on your own property. Sometimes a simple change to fencing or landscaping can improve the flow for animals that need to get to food, shelter and potential mates.
 
National Wildlife Federation also has a really cool certification program where you can have your own backyard certified as a wildlife habitat. It involves growing native plants, providing safe places to hide from predators, and using sustainable practices.
 
Like this article? Share it with your wildlife advocate friends! And let us hear your thoughts on habitat loss and fragmentation. What do you think of the kinds of solutions CLAW has already been a part of?

First of all, we highly recommend all wildlife-conscious people carry a couple of wildlife rehabilitator phone numbers in their phones at all times.  That way if you’re the person on the scene of a wildlife-vehicle collision (WVC), or you’re faced with an orphaned or injured animal in someone’s backyard, you have resources at your fingertips and you know whom to call. Here’s how to find a wildlife rehabilitator in your area.

Wildlife rehabilitators are specially trained, educated and licensed professionals working in partnership with a licensed veterinarian to care for sick, orphaned or injured animals and helping them return to their natural environment. Through wildlife rehabilitation, the animals receive appropriate nourishment for their species as well as medical care in an environment that meets certain standards. Depending on your area, a wildlife rehabilitator may only accept certain types of animals and may refer you to another organization for assistance with other species. But a wildlife rehabilitation center is a great place to start. Otherwise, it is often the state game commission or department of fisheries and wildlife that has oversight of animal removal and assistance on the roads. If you have trouble getting through to someone, anyone—People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has a number you can call and they'll support you in finding a resource: (757) 622-PETA.

Wildlife rehabilitator stabilizes an Eagle-owl 
Sarinahornay [CC BY-SA 3.0]

​Yes, absolutely! Some states even have laws about leaving the scene of a WVC (often referring to livestock, dogs and horses) so it's always good to pull over, and either back up your car to the scene of the accident, or get out of your car and approach when it appears safe—whether from vehicular traffic or from the animal's reaction. An animal in fear or distress, such as a deer, could kick you, and many small animals bite and scratch and carry rabies. 

If it is a baby animal, be extremely cautious exiting your car and approaching as its angry and protective parents are most likely near by. This is the time to call for help! 

If the animal is approachable and injured, it is fine to cover the animal with a blanket for comfort from cold and shock. You can also place something gently over the animal's head to help calm it as vision and sensory input will add to its fear and panic. Do NOT touch the animal with your bare hands. Find something (great idea to always carry a blanket or towel of some sort in your trunk) to cover it with and/or use the blanket to help move the animal off the roadway so it is not put in further danger of being hit.

After you have gotten through to a wildlife rehabilitator or the game commission for your state and region, they'll advise you further on what to do. If possible, remain with the animal, which will likely be in pain and terrified. Staying with the animal can help prevent further road traffic from hitting it and can also keep predators away.

Michelle Buntin [Public domain]

Good question. Let's say you're flying down the freeway at 70 mph and somehow a small mammal got trapped between lanes (they're less likely here, but theoretically) and you hit and definitely kill the animal. Show of hands here—with cars whizzing by and heavy traffic and perhaps your car in the middle lane, would you stop? Probably not. It just wouldn't be safe for you or other drivers. 

But let's say you're driving down a two-lane stretch at 55 mph (where most WVCs happen, by the way) and you hit a raccoon. You safely pull over and cautiously approach, only to find that the animal is clearly beyond any kind of rehabilitation. Do you leave it? We say no. Think about it. All the times you've seen a furry lump up ahead in the road and you tried to maneuver your wheels to make sure you straddled the carcass instead of hitting it again. And then of course there's the poor animal that's been run over so many times you wonder why on earth someone couldn't have given it the dignity of removal at some point. Be the ONE! 

1. Find something, like a blanket, towel, T-shirt, or piece of cardboard or plastic, to maneuver the animal onto, and move it well off the side of the road or into nearby forest or brush to let nature take its course.
2. Don't touch the animal with your bare hands.
3. Observe your surroundings, watching for traffic as well as other animals, especially if you hit a baby animal.

Once you have established that you are safe and not injured yourself, or you have called 911 for help, you can turn your attention to the animal. Calling 911 for an emergency event will often trigger a police report as well as removal of the animal from the roadway. Keep in mind that you CAN call 911 even if you, personally, haven't been injured but you've hit a large animal that's lying in the roadway, causing further danger to other vehicle traffic.

Of course you can also call the game commission for your state and in many states there are laws that allow you to collect roadkill to eat it, if that's your thing. Some state wildlife commissions also donate roadkill for scientific research.

ForestWander.com [CC BY-SA 3.0 us ]

Humane Society listing of where to find contact info for wildlife rehabilitators and commissions by state (visit the site and find the contact info for your region)
​​
​People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - help with animal injury on roads (757) 622-PETA (7382)

Have any other suggestions for when you hit an animal while driving? Feel free to comment and share below. And if you found this blog useful, pass it along!