Wildlife Crossings: A Lifeline for North Carolina’s Red Wolves

Thousands of North Carolinians traveled to the Outer Banks for Labor Day. Were you one of them? If so, you probably used US Highway 64 to get there and back. Highway 64 speeds through the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on its way to the Outer Banks. It’s home to diverse wildlife, from bears and bobcats to the only wild population of the highly endangered red wolf. Traffic along the highway is a major risk to red wolves within and crossing into or out of the refuge. According to a newly released first-year report, a recent study has documented the devastating impact of traffic on local wildlife.

A Lifeline for Wildlife: New Crossing Projects Bring Hope

The good news? New wildlife crossing projects along the highway provide hope for reducing the sad story of wildlife roadkill. The U.S. Federal Highways’ Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program awarded a $25 million grant to build crossings on U.S. 64 by Buffalo City Road, a red wolf “hot spot” in East Lake on the Dare County mainland where the animals often cross into the refuge. Private conservation groups Wildlands Network and the Center for Biological Diversity teamed up to raise an additional $4 million in private donations for matching funds for the project. In addition, the NC Dept. of Transportation plans wildlife crossings under each end of the bridge across Alligator River itself. 

As climate change and new developments chip away at our remaining wildlands, it’s more urgent than ever to protect the refuges and roadless areas we have left. Wildlife crossings on busy highways are a vital tool that deserves more attention and can be replicated widely to help protect these habitats and the animals that call them home.