Humans know to stop and look both ways before they cross the street.
Sadly, animals are not aware or capable of this safety precaution.
Collisions between cars and animals can harm both the traveling creatures and human passengers.
P-35, a cougar caught on camera near the Santa Susana Mountains northwest of Los Angeles. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Wildlife underpasses and overpasses are a great solution to this problem.
With funneling fences, these routes provide safe crossing for species frombears to cougars to crabs.
Urban sprawl around LA has created problems for wildlife.
Wildlife overpass in Canada over the Trans-Canada Highway. (Photo: WikiPedant viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 4.0)
Cougars in particular have garnered attention.
Their historic ranges have been curtailed by highways, housing developments, and other human constructions.
The grassy bridge is based on extensive research into threatened mountain lions in the area.
Cougars in the region could be saved from extinction.
Dubbed the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing for a very generous donor, the bridge will also benefit other species.
Coyotes, deer, lizards, and snakes are all expected to use it.
U.S. Route 101 is one of the busiest highways in the region with 10 teeming lanes.
An estimated 300,000 cars will pass underneath daily.
Now, other animals will not have to make this perilous journey to roam as nature intended.
P-35, a cougar caught on camera near the Santa Susana Mountains northwest of Los Angeles.
Wildlife overpass in Canada over the Trans-Canada Highway.
