Overcrossing is part of a growing trend to avoid animal-vehicle collisions across the West
The site of the proposed wildlife overcrossing is shown with Highway 101 below and Rocks Ranch to the left near San Juan Bautista, Calif., on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Rocks Ranch is a 2,600-acre cattle ranch recently acquired by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. A sprawling cattle ranch along Highway 101 near the border of Santa Clara and San Benito County could become home to a unique overpass. Not for cars, but for wildlife.
Planning is still in the early stages for the crossing, which would be the first such natural bridge built over any freeway in Northern California. An overcrossing would probably be 120 to 160 feet wide. It would be constructed of concrete and covered with grass, brush, rocks, logs and possibly even trees. Fencing would be built along parts of the freeway to help keep animals off the road and direct them to the overpass, Robertson added.
Bryan Largay, left, conservation director with the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, and Barry Baker, director of land protection with the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, tours Rocks Ranch near San Juan Bautista, Calif., on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Rocks Ranch is a 2,600-acre cattle ranch recently acquired by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County.
A bird flies at Rocks Ranch in San Juan Bautista, Calif., on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Rocks Ranch is a 2,600-acre cattle ranch recently acquired by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. Bryan Largay, conservation director with the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, tours Rocks Ranch near San Juan Bautista, Calif., on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Rocks Ranch is a 2,600-acre cattle ranch recently acquired by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. Animal crossings are part of a growing trend in California and the West — and are already making a difference.
In Wyoming, state fish and game officials built two wildlife bridges in 2012 for pronghorn antelope to cross over Highway 191 near Pinedale, along with six underpasses. Wildlife-vehicle crashes have dropped by 85% in the area since then.Construction began last spring on an $87 million wildlife bridge with vegetation over the 10-lane 101 freeway at Liberty Canyon in Agoura Hills.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Mountain lion found dead on 101 Fwy in Agoura Hills, near construction site of wildlife crossingA mountain lion was found dead in a traffic lane on the 101 Freeway in the Agoura Hills area, the California Highway Patrol said.
Read more »
Dead mountain lion found on 101 Freeway near wildlife crossing siteThe animal was found in the far right lane of the southbound freeway near Liberty Canyon Road before daybreak.
Read more »
Mountain lion found dead on 101 Freeway near site of wildlife crossing constructionA mountain lion was found dead on the freeway near the construction for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, which is set to be complete by late 2025 or early 2026.
Read more »
Dead mountain lion found on 101 Freeway near wildlife crossing in Agoura HillsA mountain lion was found dead Saturday on the 101 Freeway near Agoura Hills, close to the sight of the wildlife crossing currently under construction over the…
Read more »
Mountain Lion Found Dead On 101 Freeway, Less Than A Mile From Future Wildlife Crossing SiteKevin Tidmarsh is Weekend Edition's Associate Producer. Kevin started out in audio making an independent history podcast at Pomona College before going on to work for NPR's Morning Edition, KCRW and Stitcher.
Read more »
Mountain lion found dead on 101 Freeway near construction of wildlife crossingA mountain lion was found dead on the 101 Freeway near Calabasas, close to construction of a wildlife crossing.
Read more »