Wildlands Network

Bridging Habitats – And People – To Connect California ?? In the Sierra Nevada, U.S. 395 disrupts migration corridors for mule deer, elk, and pronghorn, threatening California's rich biodiversity. This year, we made significant strides, including: - Securing $16.7 million in grants for wildlife crossings on U.S. 395, I-8, and I-5 - Identifying connectivity hotspots, guiding Caltrans to prioritize five culverts and 32 additional wildlife crossing projects - Sponsoring the Room to Roam Act, empowering local governments to enhance land-use planning for critical wildlife corridors And more! Discover the full impact of #ConnectingTheWild in our 2024 Impact Report: https://buff.ly/3U0sICR

"Connecting the Wild" is not just a goal; it’s a movement. ?? We’re thrilled to share key highlights in our 2024 Impact Report showcasing our dedication to reconnecting fragmented habitats and protecting wildlife, including: - A landmark report detailing five years of transformative policy changes that support wildlife crossings, driven by our support of 21 state bills and over $58 million in funding. - Key modifications to the border wall allowing mountain lions and javelinas to move freely, thanks to our extensive documentation of its impact on wildlife. - A $25 million initiative initiated by a matching pledge to create new road crossings and protect the critically endangered red wolf from extinction. Thank you for being part of our journey #ConnectingTheWild toward a wilder future! Read the full report here: https://buff.ly/3TXFz8R

Maps tell powerful stories. Want to learn how the border wall impacts wildlife or discover the key sites for wildlife crossings in California? Explore our collection of StoryMaps for these insights and more: https://buff.ly/4ecsLmJ

It's official - the Room to Roam Act was just signed into law in California! We're proud to be co-sponsors alongside the Center for Biological Diversity and are excited to see all it will do to reconnect critical wildlife pathways throughout California. Read our blog for details on the law and what it means for biodiversity: https://buff.ly/3ynVohr Photo: Mari Galloway, our California Program Director, JP Rose, Center for Biological Diversity, and Linda Parks, former Ventura County Supervisor, on their way to testify for the Room to Roam Act.

Do you want to learn about the impacts of fire on wildlife?? Today, our Associate Director and Conservation Programs Director, Juan Carlos G. Bravo, joins other experts in a webinar co-organized by the Forest Service and the Forest Stewardship Guild to discuss jaguars and their potential for adaptation in the face of wildfires. Please join us to learn more: ?? Tuesday, September 24, 11:30 AM AZ, 12:30 PM MT. Register here to attend: https://lnkd.in/eN26iynt

The Room to Roam Act "would mandate that local leaders identify where these wildlife connectivity areas are in their general plan and then avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to that area to be a functional linkage for wildlife,” Mari Galloway, our California Program Director, reports to the LA Times. Read the full article to learn more about the bill, connectivity, and mountain lions in California here: https://buff.ly/3ZvEBEu Photo credit: Gillian Roy

US 395 runs through crucial wildlife habitats and migration corridors in California. Our California Program Coordinator, Gillian Roy, recently teamed up with Caltrans, CDFW, and Pathways for Wildlife for an on-site visit. They explored findings from our US 395 study, conducted by Pathways for Wildlife, and discussed exciting plans to upgrade bridges and culverts making the highway safer for both humans and wildlife! Learn more: https://buff.ly/4dapZNQ Photo credit: Gillian Roy and Ahíga Snyder

"Right now, road mortality is the main thing holding the red wolf population back." Read more about the recent loss of 5 red wolf pups and why wildlife crossings are a solution to save this species from extinction in The Washington Post's latest red wolf coverage featuring our Chief Scientist, Dr. Ron Sutherland. https://lnkd.in/gAGbU6Pj

Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) confirmed the tragic news that an entire litter of 5 endangered red wolf pups died this summer after their father (2444M) was killed by a car on US 64 in June. This is another devastating loss for a species with fewer than 20 individuals left in the wild. ?? We're fighting for this species to prevent these losses from happening again by leading an effort with nonprofit partners to help fund a wildlife crossings on US 64. Our efforts have supported a $25 million proposal from the North Carolina Department of Transportation to secure a new red wolf crossing. You can help save this species from the brink of extinction by learning more and donating now! Stay tuned for updates. For more information: https://lnkd.in/dxkgSByZ Photo: Red wolf pup taken by Ron Sutherland at the Durham Museum of Life and Science, North Carolina.

Joining Forces for Wildlife Connectivity Last month, the Wildlife Crossing Fund team visited two of Wildlands Network’s project sites in California and Nevada as part of their California Wildlife Reconnected road trip. During the site visits, California Program Director Mari Galloway and California Program Coordinator Gillian Roy guided the Wildlife Crossing Fund team – featuring Beth Pratt with the National Wildlife Federation, Steve Winter and Sharon Guynup with Big Cat Voices, and Renee Callahan and Marta Brocki with ARC Solutions – through priority connectivity areas identified in our US 395 and Lake Tahoe Basin project sites. Both the US 395 and Lake Tahoe Basin present major barriers to wildlife movement. Creating more wildlife crossings in both areas is an important step in peaceful human-wildlife coexistence. ???? Check out our StoryMaps to learn more about these two projects! https://buff.ly/4ecsLmJ Photo credit: Heath Proctor and Gillian Roy