Conservation

Wildlife Corridors and Animal Welfare

Wildlife corridors connect fragmented habitats, allowing animals to move safely between areas. They reduce road mortality, inbreeding, and behavioral restriction, with direct welfare benefits for wild populations.

Key Facts

Road mortality kills an estimated 1-2 million large vertebrates per day in the US alone
Wildlife crossing structures reduce vehicle-animal collisions by up to 97% at target locations
Genetic isolation in fragmented populations causes health problems within three to five generations
The Y2Y corridor project in North America protects over 3,200 km of connected habitat
Underpasses specifically designed for small mammals have doubled local population viability in some studies

Welfare Considerations

Habitat fragmentation causes chronic welfare harms to wild animals including restricted movement, barriers to finding mates and food, and high rates of road mortality. Wildlife corridors address these harms at landscape scale. When combined with road crossing structures, corridors dramatically reduce the daily toll of vehicle strikes on wildlife. Investment in connectivity infrastructure has among the highest welfare impact per dollar in conservation spending.

What You Can Do

Support conservation organizations working on wildlife corridor protection
Advocate for wildlife crossing structures in road and highway planning processes
Drive carefully in wildlife corridor areas, particularly at dawn, dusk, and night
Donate to organizations mapping and protecting critical corridor habitat
Support land trusts and easements that preserve connectivity between protected areas