Wildlife crossings are becoming more widely recognized for reducing wildlife-vehicle conflicts, habitat connectivity, and contributing toward driver safety. Even more notable is their role in supporting biodiversity during times of climate change. A recent paper on the impact of wildlife crossings for climate adaptation highlights how strategically designed wildlife crossings can help wildlife adapt to shifting habitats and resource availability caused by a changing climate, as well as creating infrastructure that is climate resilient through prediction models for changing wildlife movement.

The paper synthesizes research on how wildlife crossings can address climate-related challenges and habitat connectivity by examining existing literature on road ecology and climate adaptation. These structures provide essential pathways for wildlife adjusting their patterns of movement and range to find suitable ecosystems. Wildlife crossings mitigate barriers to movement, enabling species to access critical resources during droughts or avoid hazardous areas affected by human development or extreme weather, such as flooding.

A case study on elk migration in Colorado illustrates the importance of integrating climate projections into wildlife crossing locations. By modeling elk movement under current and future conditions, the study demonstrates that crossings strategically placed to accommodate these shifts can provide long-term connectivity benefits and economic incentives. This approach ensures crossings remain effective as climates and landscapes change.

The authors advocate for planning at a landscape scale, fostering collaboration across jurisdictions, as well as incorporating Indigenous and local knowledge into decision-making. They also stress the importance of leveraging policies and funding opportunities, such as the U.S. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to invest in innovative and resilient designs. Additionally, designing for multiple species and monitoring the ecological impacts of crossings are key for considering utility maximization.

Wildlife crossings are a tangible, cost-effective solution to protecting biodiversity and enhancing resilient infrastructure in a rapidly changing world. By integrating climate considerations, they can deliver both immediate and long-term benefits, making them a critical climate adaptation tool for wildlife and human communities alike.

Click here to read the whole paper “Evaluating and elevating the role of wildlife road crossings in climate adaptation” by Caitlin E. Littlefield et al., and for more information on Virginia’s wildlife crossing legislation, check out our webinar on YouTube!

Wild Virginia is passionate about advocating for wildlife crossings and how they can enhance both aquatic and terrestrial passage in addition to increasing flood resiliency and protection for socially vulnerable communities. If you share our passion for any of these issues or if you just want to be a part of the push for climate resilient infrastructure, you can contribute to our missions of advancing new policy to promote ecological connectivity and utilizing existing regulatory systems to advance habitat connectivity by donating or becoming a member today!