A North Carolina wildlife crossing will save people. Can it save the last wild red wolves too?

Alligator River National Wildlife Liguge, NC (AP) – The fishermen had previously the greatest human threat to the only unique wolf species in the country. Today, he is drivers.

This fact was brought home last June, when Red Wolf Proliding Male was struck 2444 and we killed the United States 64 near Manz Port, North Carolina. His death is likely to mean five as a result of which he was providing it to die as well.

“We were hoping that the mother would return and resume sponsorship, but it has never done,” said Joe Madison, head of the Red Wolf Recovery program of fish and wildlife service in the United States.

For decades, the specialists of maintaining changes to the United States 64, which is a crowded highway from lanes for famous external banks that pass directly through the National River Wildlife Revolution-one of only two places in the world where the red wolves start.

They may finally get their desire.

In late December, the Federal Highway Administration was awarded the first grant under a new experimental program worth $ 125 million. Unless the grants are underestimated in one way or another by President Donald Trump, part of the money will help state agencies and non-profit groups to rebuild the 2.5 miles of the highway with fencing and a series of weeds, or small expenditures, to allow red wolves- as bears Black, white tail deer and other animals-to pass safely under traffic.

“When you build bridges of wildlife or expenses, you reduce the struggle of human life,” said Stewart Pim, an environmentalist at Duke University, who studies wildlife migrations but does not directly participate in the project. “There is an increasing awareness that reducing traffic collision is smart for wildlife, smart for people as well.”

Granting other agencies will support the new bridges and al -Badoum to the alfalfa in the state of Idaho, and the PRONGHORN antelope in New Mexico, the Egger and Bear in Oregon, among other projects.

But what draws attention to the US 64 project is that the target is two parts: reducing dangerous collisions and Roadkill – and saving endangered species. It is believed that there are less than 20 red wolves left in the wilderness. In addition to the crocodile, there are other habitats remaining in the National Lix’s Wildlife Wildlife shelter.

Madison calculates that No. 2444 represents 7 % of the population of well -known red wolf. “Therefore, every time you get deaths, this is a big blow,” he said.

Reducing the road – and rescue type?

Wildlife crossings have spread throughout the United States over the past twenty years with a wide non -partisan support. Most often, the goal is safety. One report from Congress estimated that the collision of dangerous highways with large animals kills hundreds of people and costs more than $ 8 billion per year.

The researchers have learned a lot about what works for different types.

“Pronghorn does not want to go across tunnels or closing spaces, so they avoid expenses and need bridges,” said Arthur Middleton, the environment scientist who studies animal immigration at the University of California, Berkeley. “While the deer will go below or more.”

Gray wolves and wolves – it is assumed that red wolves – will also use expenses, or drops with a diameter of 6 or 8 feet. Fencing is crucial to converting animals into structures.

Along the United States 30 in Wyoming, seven small discontent and fence were cut off by 81 % jelly. In Canada, a series of bridges and landing along the highway across Canada in the Panf National Park collided with 94 % animals reserved.

But whether wildlife crossings can help prevent extinction is a more difficult question to answer.

“The memorization has always been part of the story, but now we see crossings that are increasingly floating on the surface,” said Ben Golfarb, author of the book “Crossings: How Road Ecology, has always been part of the story, but now we see crossings that are increasingly floating on the surface. “

Some of the most ambitious crossings are built – and it will take time to assess the results.

Outside Los Angeles, it is expected to open through wildlife to more than 10 corridors from the United States 101 in 2026. The primary goal is to help connect mountain black habitats, which need to cross the highway to find suitable colleagues. Marriage between the mountainous lions in the Los Angeles region has already led to genetic mutations and low fertility.

In the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro, the construction of a wildlife bridge that extends to BR 101 was completed in 2020, then the original seedlings were planted in the soil bed. Once these trees are ripe, researchers will study whether the targeted species – a targeted monkey called Golden Tamarin – uses the bridge regularly. Experts say that trees are necessary for creatures such as monkeys or lazy to move across the bridge. The species that flounder on the ground, including foxes, ants and acidsus, actually cross.

We hope at the end of the tunnel tunnel for red wolves?

Although it is not certain that the wildlife crossing can save the last red wolves, scientists say that not doing anything will definitely accelerate their demise.

Canis Ruffus, which is often called “American Wolf”, which was wandering once from the center of Texas to the southern Iowa and east east East Long Island, New York. After an extinct declaration in the wilderness, the red wolves in North Carolina in 1987 were re -presented.

For approximately 20 years, the residents grew steadily to reach about 120 animals. Then their numbers were shattered – with vehicle collision, one of the main perpetrators. One study found that vehicle strikes had killed about 5 % of the population of the red wolf every year between re -introduction and 2022.

Marcel b. Huigjer, a study author and an ecological specialist at the Western Transport Institute at the University of Montana, that the cost of not doing anything, “including the loss of wild species, can be much higher than the cost of implementing effective mitigation.”

In North Carolina, biologists tried fish and wildlife other measures to prevent collision accidents – such as signs of flashing roads and reflective hoops – without great success.

After death No. 2444, memorization groups such as Wildlands and Biological Diversity Center pushed another solution.

In September, the Ministry of Transport in North Carolina submitted a request for the grant for the Red Wolf Essential Survival Trendings under the eviction or project.

Land life transit plans in the United States require 64 for a series of tunnel structures – many of which are large enough for wolves and other large mammals that they pass – and accompanying fencing. Travis Wilson, coordinator of preserving oriental habitats at the Wildlife Resources Committee in North Carolina, said the exact number and expenditures have not yet been determined.

The total estimated cost of the project is about $ 31.5 million, including $ 4 million of special donations raised by the conservation groups and a scholarship that matches the unknown donors.

“This is one of the most important wildlife communication projects in the country,” said Beth Pratt, founder of The Wildlife Crossing Fund, which raised money for the project. “Endangered red wolves will disappear if we do nothing.”

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