The National Wildlife Federation’s #SaveLACougars Campaign, Big Cat Voices, ARC Solutions, and The Wildlife Crossing Fund have kicked off the second stage of their Wildlife Crossings Across America tour, a series of road trips aimed at raising awareness about the importance of wildlife crossings and connectivity projects. This leg of the journey will focus on California, covering nearly 2,000 miles and making over two dozen stops across the state. The tour began at the California-Nevada border, where the team visited a proposed wildlife crossing along Highway 395 near Honey Lake.
This road trip coincides with the launch of “California Wildlife Reconnected,” a new public-private partnership initiative spearheaded by Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Natural Resources Agency, alongside Caltrans, The Wildlife Crossing Fund, and the National Wildlife Federation. Inspired by the success of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, which is under construction and will be the largest wildlife crossing in the world when completed, the initiative aims to scale up this collaborative model to build more wildlife crossings and improve wildlife movement across California.
Governor Newsom emphasized the importance of wildlife crossings for preserving California’s natural beauty and biodiversity, stating that they are “essential to our 30×30 commitment to conserve 30 percent of our lands and coastal waters by 2030.” He highlighted the vital role these crossings play in connecting people to nature and wildlife to its habitat, ensuring the survival of California’s natural treasures for future generations.
California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that wildlife crossings are a “win-win for people and nature.” He highlighted their ability to reduce traffic accidents and allow animals to move safely through their habitat, especially crucial as climate change puts pressure on ecosystems. Crowfoot also expressed optimism about the momentum generated by the state’s investment in wildlife crossings, thanks to funding from the Governor, Legislature, and philanthropic leaders.
Caltrans Director Tony Tavares underscored the importance of balancing the movement of people and goods with the movement of wildlife. He acknowledged that state highways, while connecting people to nature, can also create barriers for native species. Caltrans’ commitment to researching, restoring, and renovating passageways for wildlife is evident in the delivery of over 20 wildlife under-crossings and investments in over-structures to assist larger animals. Caltrans engineers, planners, and scientists are actively working to create a safer, more equitable, and sustainable transportation system for all animals in California.
The “California Wildlife Reconnected” initiative is supported by a founding advisory team composed of expert NGOs and practitioners in the field of connectivity, including ARC Solutions, The Nature Conservancy, Planning and Conservation League, Rock Design Associates, Wildlife Conservation Network, Wildlands Network, Fearless Advocacy, and Pathways for Wildlife. The first gathering of “California Wildlife Reconnected” will be hosted by the California Department of Natural Resources on March 21, 2025, bringing together organizations, agencies, communities, and individuals involved in connectivity efforts across the state.
The Wildlife Crossing Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising half a billion dollars for wildlife crossings and connectivity projects, has pledged to secure the necessary financial support for “California Wildlife Reconnected.” Philanthropist Wallis Annenberg has already committed a $10 million matching grant, and over $2.2 million has been raised toward the match from Joan Randall, the Donald Slavik Family Foundation, and the Wildlife Conservation Network.
Neal Sharma, Senior Manager at the Wildlife Conservation Network, expressed enthusiasm for partnering with The Wildlife Crossing Fund to address critical wildlife connectivity challenges across California. He sees this as the beginning of a comprehensive effort to leverage significant funding, drive policy improvements, and strengthen public-private collaborations to safeguard California’s biodiversity.
Beth Pratt, California Regional Executive Director for the National Wildlife Federation and founder of The Wildlife Crossing Fund, emphasizes the devastating impact of roads on wildlife and her commitment to ensuring more wildlife crossings are built. She acknowledges the importance of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing but underscores the need to go beyond a single project to create a safer world for wildlife. Pratt calls on philanthropists to help bridge a remaining funding gap of $7.8 million to accelerate the implementation of wildlife crossing projects.
The Wildlife Crossings Across America road trip team, led by Beth Pratt, includes wildlife photojournalist Steve Winter, environmental journalist Sharon Guynup, and Renee Callahan and Marta Brocki of ARC (Animal Road Crossing Solutions). During the road trip, the team will visit various locations where wildlife crossings are needed, including areas where monarch butterflies, mule deer, and newts are threatened by vehicle traffic. The tour culminates at the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, scheduled for completion in 2026, which will serve as a global model for urban wildlife conservation.
This second stage of the Wildlife Crossings Across America road trip, focusing on California, provides a platform to highlight the importance of wildlife crossings, promote the new “California Wildlife Reconnected” initiative, and encourage collaboration between public and private sectors to protect biodiversity and ensure the safe passage of wildlife for generations to come.
