The Banff Wildlife Crossings Project is a wildlife project which originated in Banff, Canada in 1996. The goal was to allow animals to travel over highways using man-made bridges costing around $2–3 million to build. While locals were skeptical of them, they still remain and have reduced mortality rates amongst certain species
Among large carnivores, mortality rates are 50 to 100 per cent lower along sections of the highway where overpasses and underpasses exist. In those same sections, mortality rates for elk are almost zero, compared to 100 elk-vehicle collisions per year in the mid-1990s. [Tony] Clevenger’s research has shown that 11 species of large mammals in Banff have used the structures more than 200,000 times, including unexpected species such as red fox, hoary marmot, boreal toads, wolverines, lynx, garter snakes and beavers.
“As Banff’s famed wildlife overpasses turn 20, the world looks to Canada for conservation inspiration” — Gloria Dickie (2017)
According to Parks Canada, continuous research and monitoring of the wildlife crossing structures has contributed to improvements in subsequent phases of the Trans-Canada Highway Twinning Project
since 1996 and they have become a world leader in highway wildlife mitigations
.
You can read more about The Banff Wildlife Crossings Project in the links below:
- Wildlife Crossings Key to Highway Safety in Banff
- Wildlife crossing structures and research (Banff National Park)
- Wildlife Crossings Project on Highway 93 South
- The Alberta Story: Wildlife Crossing in Banff
- Researchers discover secret of building a better wildlife overpass
(h/t @freewild.bsky.social)