< img src="https://savageventures.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Widlife-overpass-1.jpeg?w=1200"alt=" "> A collection video from WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation) and Preservation NW shows a host of animals utilizing a series of wildlife overpasses. The overpasses cross Interstate 90 near Snoqualmie Pass in Washington State. Elk, martens, coyotes, moose, and what appears to be a cougar pass through, proving how effective wildlife overpasses can be.
Wildlife in the location once roamed from Oregon to Canada. However, I-90, which bisects Washington State from west to east, cuts off animals’ natural paths. Fortunately, wildlife crossings now enable the location’s original inhabitants to pass over and/or under the highway unscathed.
Modified by Lauren Frohne of The Seattle Times, the video is a mashup of clips from wildlife cams showing different types utilizing the overpass for different functions. Some pertain to graze, some to play, some to spar with a partner, and some to simply go through.
Watch what the video cameras capture below. What surprised you most?
(Thanks To WSDOT and Conservation NW, modified by Lauren Frohne/ The Seattle Times)
25,716 Safe Wildlife Crossings and Counting
The Seattle Times reports that by the end of last year, WSDOT had actually taped the 25,716 th safe wildlife crossing in the job zone. This consisted of “13,525 by deer, 7,967 by elk, 3,216 by coyote and a handful by rarer species like moose, cougar, American marten, fisher and American pika.”
If all those animals had actually attempted to cross I-90 instead of crossing above or below it, some of them wouldn’t have actually made it.
While some animals still do cross the roadway the old-fashioned way, the number of crashes between automobiles and wildlife is significantly lowered when animals have an alternative way to get where they wish to go.
The I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East project is continuous. By 2031, The Seattle Times states the 15-mile, $1 billion task will include an extra 16 crossings.
A video shows elk, martens, coyotes, moose, and even a cougar utilize a wildlife overpass in Washington State. See to see what they get up to.