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W.2

Q: How did the coyote cross the road?

A: By using its very own bridge, of course!

Welcome to the weird, wonderful (and very important) world of wildlife crossings. 

Shutterstock.com

In California, workers have just started building a very special bridge. This bridge will stretch 200 feet over a busy highway. It will cost $90 million to build. It will be the biggest bridge of its kind. 

    But cars and trucks won’t drive on it. You won’t be able to bike across it either. In fact, the plan is to cover it with fresh soil, grass, and plants. 

    So what is this fancy bridge for? 

    Animals! 

In California, workers have just started building a special bridge. This bridge will stretch 200 feet over a highway. It will cost $90 million to build. It will be the biggest bridge of its kind. 

    But cars and trucks won’t drive on it. You won’t be able to bike across it either. It will be covered with soil, grass, and plants.

    What is this bridge for?

    Animals!

In California, workers recently began construction on a very special bridge. This bridge, which will cost $90 million to build, will stretch 200 feet over a busy highway. It will be the biggest bridge of its kind. 

    But you won’t see any cars or trucks driving on it, and you won’t be able to bike across it either. In fact, the plan is to cover it with fresh soil, grass, and plants.

    So what is this fancy new bridge for?

    Animals!

Crossing to Survive

KIRSTY FAULKNER/MERCURY PRESS/Caters News

    Bridges like the one being built in California are called wildlife crossings. These special paths help animals cross busy roads. 

    In Washington State, squirrels run across the 60-foot-long Nutty Narrows Bridge. In Vermont, tiny tunnels keep frogs safe from traffic. In Australia, red crabs use an overpass made just for them. 

    Why do these creatures need their own crossings? Until recently, most of the world’s land was grass and dirt. Animals could safely migrate, or travel, as seasons changed. This made it easier to find food.

    But in the past 100 years, cars have changed the way we live. The U.S. alone has added more than 2.6 million miles of paved roads. These roads cut through animals’ habitats, or homes. 

    Creatures that don’t try to cross through traffic could starve. Those that do try might not make it to the other side. In the U.S., up to 2 million large animals are hit by cars and trucks every year. In some of these accidents, humans are killed and injured too.

    Bridges like the one being built in California are called wildlife crossings. They help animals cross busy roads.

    In Washington State, squirrels run across the Nutty Narrows Bridge. In Vermont, tiny tunnels keep frogs safe from traffic. In Australia, red crabs use an overpass made just for them.

    Why do animals need their own crossings? In the past, most of the world’s land was grass and dirt. Animals could safely migrate, or travel, as seasons changed. This made it easier to find food.

    But in the past 100 years, cars have changed the way we live. The U.S. alone has added more than 2.6 million miles of paved roads. These roads cut through animals’ habitats, or homes.

    Creatures that don’t try to cross through traffic could starve. Those that do try face danger. In the U.S., up to 2 million large animals are hit by cars and trucks every year. In some of these accidents, humans are hurt or killed too.

    Bridges like the one being built in California are called wildlife crossings. These special paths make it possible for animals to safely cross busy roads.

    In Washington State, squirrels scamper across the 60-foot-long Nutty Narrows Bridge. In Vermont, tiny tunnels protect frogs from dangerous traffic. In Australia, red crabs use an overpass created specially for them.

    Why do these creatures need their own crossings? Until recently, most of the world’s land was grass and dirt. Animals could safely migrate, or travel, to find food as seasons changed.

    But in the past 100 years, cars have changed the way we live. The United States alone has added more than 2.6 million miles of paved roads. These roads cut through animals’ habitats, or homes.

    Creatures that don’t attempt to cross through traffic could starve, but those that do try might not make it to the other side. In the U.S., as many as 2 million large animals are hit by cars and trucks every year. In some of these accidents, humans are killed and injured too.

Jorg Greuel/Getty Images

Safer Streets

    Today, there are nearly 1,000 wildlife crossings in the U.S. Some animal experts say that’s not enough. Why aren’t there more? These crossings cost a lot of money to build. Even a small tunnel can cost $250,000.

    Last year, Congress passed a new law. It includes $350 million to build wildlife crossings. This is the most our government has ever promised to spend on animal-friendly paths. 

    When built, these bridges and tunnels will save countless bobcats, alligators, and other creatures. And who knows? They might even save your life too. 

    Today, the U.S. has nearly 1,000 wildlife crossings. Some animal experts say that’s not enough. Why aren’t there more? These crossings cost a lot to build. Even a small tunnel can cost $250,000.

    Last year, Congress passed a new law. It includes $350 million to build wildlife crossings. It’s the most our government has ever promised to spend to build animal-friendly paths.

    These crossings will save countless animals. And who knows? They might save your life too. 

    Today, there are nearly 1,000 wildlife crossings in the U.S. Some animal experts say that’s not enough. Why aren’t there more? These crossings are very expensive to construct. Even a small tunnel can cost $250,000.

    Last year, Congress passed a new law that includes $350 million in funding to construct wildlife crossings. This is the most our government has ever promised to spend on building animal-friendly paths.

    When built, these bridges and tunnels will save countless bobcats, alligators, and other creatures—and they might even save your life too. 

Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Watch out!
An elk crosses a busy road. Up to 2 million large animals are hit by cars every year.

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