HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania launched a cross-agency wildlife connectivity work group to develop a statewide strategy for reducing animal-vehicle crashes, reconnecting fragmented habitats and guiding future transportation and conservation investments.
The Pennsylvania Wildlife Connectivity Work Group will be led by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and PennDOT, with participation from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Fish and Boat Commission, Turnpike Commission, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environmental Protection and other partners.
The effort comes as Pennsylvania faces high levels of wildlife-vehicle collisions. PennEnvironment cited more than 140,000 claims filed last year, calling Pennsylvania the top state in the nation for such crashes.
Wildlife corridors are intended to help animals move between habitats for feeding, migration and reproduction. They can include wildlife crossings designed to reduce collisions between vehicles and animals.
The administration said the strategy will serve as a blueprint for future investments in roadway safety, habitat protection, biodiversity and outdoor recreation.
The group is expected to work with conservation organizations, private landowners and local governments as it develops a statewide habitat connectivity plan.
Stephanie Wein, clean water and conservation advocate for PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center, said Pennsylvania has lacked a cohesive statewide approach to habitat fragmentation and wildlife corridors.
“This new interagency approach will help reduce dangerous, costly animal-vehicle collisions, improve habitat for vulnerable native species, reconnect the commonwealth’s many waterways, and improve the health of Pennsylvania’s ecosystems,” Wein said.
The initiative reflects a broader effort to integrate conservation planning with transportation infrastructure as states look for ways to reduce crashes, protect wildlife and limit the effects of fragmented habitat.
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