For decades, animals in Washington State's Cascade Mountains faced a dangerous problem. A six-lane highway cut through their migration path. Tens of thousands of cars sped by daily.
In late 2018, the Washington State Department of Highways, the United States Forest Service, and nonprofits built a wildlife overpass. This allowed elk, deer, coyotes, and other animals to cross safely.
Animals started using the bridge even before it officially opened in 2019. They followed the native plants to continue their natural migration.
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Start Your News DetoxA Bear's First Step
Many animals used the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass wildlife crossing. However, black bears were not among them.
Black bears are very cautious around busy roads. They often cross at night to avoid traffic or avoid roads entirely. Research shows they are very wary of man-made structures like tunnels and bridges.
But on June 28, eight years after the crossing was built, a black bear finally used the bridge.
The Washington State Department of Highways announced this on Instagram. They noted 9,390 total wildlife visitors on the overcrossing since late 2018. The bear was the first of its kind.
The post included trail camera footage of the bear moving across the bridge with mountains in the background.
Researchers at Banff National Park have seen similar behavior from bears. Bears take several years to get used to these crossings, but they do eventually use them. The department hopes this means more bear visits in the future.
Why Wildlife Crossings Matter
Each year, vehicles crash into large mammals over 1 million times. In California, one study found that more than 557 black bears died in five years due to collisions.
Wildlife crossings do more than reduce traffic accidents. They also help animals reach important food and water sources. Without these crossings, habitats can become fragmented. This can lead to inbreeding, which is especially harmful for endangered species.
Black bears are not endangered. However, they are vital to the food web. They act as "forest gardeners" by eating and spreading berry seeds. They also help control deer populations.
So far, WSDOT has recorded 38,321 wildlife crossings on its overpass and underpass structures along I-90.
The department noted that these crossings help everyone get where they need to go. This includes those traveling by wheel, foot, hoof, or paw.
