Oftentimes they are killed crossing roads during migration. One night every spring, spotted salamanders leave their underground forest homes and migrate to wetland ponds to breed.

Best part? Accidents and animal deaths are down 80 percent! Salamander Xing: Taking the Low Road to the Pond It’s so lush that wildlife like wolves would have no idea they are crossing a major highway. The surrounding forest has filled in the overpass. Photo Parks Canada.In 1996, Alberta’s Banff National Park built the very first wildlife crossing in the world over busy TransCanada Highway, the world’s longest national road. Wolf on wildlife overpass over the Trans-Canada Highway in Banff National Park. One tortoise took seven hours to get through the underpass! Wolf Overpass: Lush Path to Safety The culverts are now flush to the ground for easy entry and exit. Geological SurveyIn the Mohave Desert, tortoises and traffic do not mix, so wildlife experts and transportation officials teamed up to transform culverts (a tunnel carrying a stream or drain under a road) into wildlife passageways. Desert Tortoise Culvert: Reptiles Under Roadsĭesert tortoise exiting a culvert retrofitted to allow tortoises to cross beneath a highway in the Mohave Desert.

Built on main migration paths, these tunnels funnel migrating crabs to safe crossings UNDER roadways. Unfortunately, 500,000 of them die, many from being crushed by vehicles while crossing roads. Photo: Parks Australia.On Australia’s Christmas Island, tens of millions of crabs make a spectacular pilgrimage from forest to ocean. On Australia’s Christmas Island, underground crossings provide safe passage for the annual red crab migration. The cubs come back to use the very same crossing as adults! Crab Crossing: Funnel in the Tunnel Over the years, this tunnel will become a tradition. Photo: Parks Canada.This grizzly bear mom travels safely UNDER the road with her cubs following closely behind. Bear Tunnel: A Family AffairĪ female grizzly with cubs at wildlife underpass under the Trans-Canada Highway in Banff National Park. Thankfully, in some places, wildlife experts are helping all sorts of species cross the road in safe – and very clever – ways.Ĭheck out the wildlife crossings below, then VOTE for your favorite. Sadly, millions of birds, reptiles, mammals and amphibians are killed by vehicles. We have 3.9 million miles of public roads crisscrossing the country, with many running right through prime wildlife habitat.

Beartunnel