NCDOT to receive funding for wildlife crossings

North Carolina DOT will receive $25 million to help provide safe passage for the state’s dwindling red wolf population and other wildlife.

Elly Boehmer Wilson | Used by permission
Fort Belvoir wildlife crossing

North Carolina DOT will receive $25 million to help provide safe passage for the state’s dwindling red wolf population and other wildlife. The federal grant will be used to install underpass structures and fencing along US-64 in Dare County, an area where 3 red wolves have been killed by vehicles since September 2023

Environment North Carolina has been calling on the government to build wildlife crossings to protect endangered red wolves and other animals. There are less than 20 red wolves known living in the wild in North Carolina, but these underpasses won’t just help the red wolves recover. More wildlife crossings along US-64 will also help other animals such as black bears and white-tailed deer traverse their habitat safely.

The $25 million allocated to the NCDOT is part of the second round of grants from the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, which is funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In total, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $350 million for the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program to be awarded between 2022 and 2026.

Black bear with cubs on road
Wikimedia Commons | CC-BY-SA-3.0
Black bear with cubs

Wildlife collisions are a big problem across America, and crossings create alternative ways for animals to cross roads without endangering themselves or drivers. America needs wildlife crossings so animals and people can cross paths safely, and right now there’s a bill in Congress that will provide the resources that communities need to protect their property and themselves from wildlife collisions.

Tell Congress to support the wildlife corridors bill.

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