First-of-its-kind report touts successful wildlife conservation projects in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center released its newest report, Wildlife Corridors: How reconnecting habitat is protecting Pennsylvania’s native species, on Wednesday. The report details how state agencies and conservation groups are preserving and reconnecting wildlife habitats in Pennsylvania using a wide variety of innovative strategies including engineered crossings, travel corridors and habitat “stepping stones”. 

“From the bobcat and black bear to the millions of songbirds that cross the Keystone State every year, Pennsylvania is blessed to be home to incredible native species,” said Stephanie Wein, clean water & conservation advocate at PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center. “This report shows how state agencies, local governments and nonprofit groups have often collaborated to create the blueprint for successful wildlife corridor projects all across Pennsylvania. It’s time to take these best practices and successes to the next level, and develop the tools needed to protect our wildlife all across the state.”

As more and more critical ecosystems and wildlife habitats have been fragmented in Pennsylvania and nationwide, corridor projects have proven successful at protecting and restoring wildlife populations. Yet a round-up highlighting successful projects across the state did not exist. The PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center’s report lays out successes and highlights the need for more projects of their kind, while showcasing the varying strategies that local leaders, government agencies and nonprofit groups can use to replicate these wildlife corridors statewide. 

Some of the ten examples in the report include: wildlife underpasses below I-99 near State College protecting black bears, deer, bobcat and small mammals; a fish ladder in the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia restoring populations of shad and other migrating fish; innovative structures helping the rare Allegheny woodrat across a former strip mine in remote Huntingdon County.

After the passage of a bipartisan resolution by the Pennsylvania state House in 2023, the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee released a set of recommendations in 2024 to enhance wildlife corridor development in Pennsylvania. These recommendations are included in the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center’s report and include:

• The executive branch should convene an official interagency working group to, in collaboration with non-governmental partners, identify high-priority areas for wildlife crossings and other corridors in Pennsylvania and establish goals for their protection.
• The General Assembly should require state agencies, independent agencies and insurance contractors working in Pennsylvania to report and track animal-vehicle collisions; increase the amount the state Game Commission can spend to purchase land for conservation, and ensure the commonwealth’s cornerstone conservation programs are adequately funded.

A family of blackbears use a PennDOT crossing under I-99 near State CollegePhoto by PennDOT | Used by permission

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The PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center is dedicated to protecting our air, water and open spaces. We investigate problems, craft solutions, educate the public and decision-makers, and help the public make their voices heard in local, state and national debates over the quality of our environment and our lives. www.PennEnvironmentCenter.org.