September 8, 2026
Build More Wildlife Crossings, Save More Animals
Costa Rica just took a major step to protect wildlife from one of the most widespread threats animals face: roads.
Lawmakers there unanimously approved legislation requiring wildlife crossings when roads and other infrastructure disrupt natural habitat connectivity or threaten animals. New projects would have to account for crossings from the planning and budgeting stages, while existing roads could also be targeted for improvements where evidence shows wildlife is at risk.
The United States should be expanding the same kind of common-sense protections.
Every day, roads slice through wildlife habitat across America, separating animals from food, water, mates and seasonal ranges. Animals attempting to cross can pay with their lives — and collisions can be deadly for people, too.
Fortunately, we know how to make roads safer.
Wildlife overpasses, underpasses, culverts, fencing and other crossing structures can reconnect fragmented habitat while dramatically reducing collisions. Well-designed crossings paired with fencing can reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by up to 97% for certain species.
America has already begun investing in these solutions. Congress created the federal Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program in 2021, providing $350 million over five years to help states, Tribes and other communities reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and reconnect habitat.
But that funding authorization expires this year — and demand has far exceeded available resources.
Congress is now considering the next major surface transportation law, creating an opportunity to strengthen and extend this successful program. The bipartisan BUILD America 250 Act advanced by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee would continue the program for another five years and provide $400 million through 2031.
That would be important progress. Congress should protect those provisions in the final transportation bill and provide robust, long-term funding to meet the growing need for safe wildlife crossings nationwide.
Costa Rica has recognized a simple truth: Roads should connect people without unnecessarily killing wildlife or severing the habitats animals need to survive.
Thank you for all that you do,
Mitch w/ Animal Commons
Source:
Mongabay | Costa Rica to require wildlife crossings for roads when they impact fauna
Photo: The Honourable Peter Lougheed Wildlife Crossing near Canmore, Alta. Photo courtesy Government of Alberta
