California is building a new overpass to reduce crashes and protect wildlife. It's already working

A recent traffic jam in British Columbia showed the dangers animals face near highways. A mother moose and her two calves tried to cross a four-lane road. One calf got stuck behind a concrete barrier.

Three drivers helped lift the baby moose over the barrier to reunite it with its mother. A video of this rescue went viral. Many people praised the drivers and called for more wildlife crossings.

The Need for Wildlife Crossings

Wildlife crashes are a big problem in the United States. Each year, about 1 million to 2 million crashes involve animals. These accidents cause around 200 human deaths and 26,000 injuries. They also cost at least $8 billion.

To make roads safer, many countries are building wildlife crossings. These include overpasses and underpasses. The U.S. has over 1,000 such crossings.

California's New Overpass

California is building a new wildlife crossing over Route 97 in Siskiyou County. This project has been planned for ten years. Fraser Shilling from the UC Davis Road Ecology Center said many deer and elk were dying on this highway due to truck traffic.

Even before it's finished, animals are already using the new overpass. On June 2, the UC Davis Road Ecology Center shared a video of three mule deer crossing the bridge. They navigated around construction materials.

Caltrans District 2 noted that these deer were the first to successfully use a new wildlife overcrossing in California. This happened just 15 hours after workers finished for the day. A bobcat also showed signs of crossing in January, though camera footage was not clear.

The wildlife overpass is about 100 feet long and 140 feet wide. It is expected to be completed this fall. Caltrans District 2 said it's exciting to see wildlife using the structure so quickly. This shows the project will help connect wildlife and improve public safety for years to come.