Pennsylvania’s wildlife corridors boost environment, safety

(WPHL) — Pennsylvania’s wildlife is facing an uphill battle. As habitats become increasingly fragmented due to infrastructure expansion, many species struggle to migrate, find food, and maintain healthy populations.

However, innovative solutions are emerging to bridge these gaps — literally. Wildlife corridors, including crossings, underpasses, and fish ladders, have proven to be game-changers in reconnecting ecosystems.

With ongoing efforts from PennDOT and conservation organizations, Pennsylvania is taking significant steps to protect its diverse wildlife while also enhancing public safety and environmental sustainability. One of these nonprofits, PennEnvironment, aims to protect the natural world, not only by promoting clean energy, but wildlife and public health in Pennsylvania as well.

Each year, more of Pennsylvania’s wildlife is disorganized and separated, making it harder for species to live. Suffering from ‘habitat fragmentation,’ or the separation of wildlife, has made life harder for certain habitats to both settle and migrate, according to PennEnvironment. However, one proven solution rises above the ashes.

‘Wildlife corridors’ take habitat fragmentation head-on. This method utilizes many different strategies to ensure wildlife can move and migrate. Wildlife crossings, fencing, underpasses, culverts, and fish ladders not only help animals, but can nearly eliminate wildlife vehicle crashes, according to a report from PennEnvironment.

PennDOT has already built over 30 wildlife crossings and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) works with conservation landowners, nonprofits, and local governments.

From land and now to sea, Pennsylvania has the highest density of waterways of any state in the country. In other words, this means that PA has plenty of bridges to bring these roadways over multiple waterways. PennDOT repaired and/or replaced 200 bridges and 3,000 miles of roadway in 2023 alone.

One of the most important waterways in the Keystone State flows through the Delaware Valley: the Schuylkill River. In Philadelphia, the Fairmount Dam has done a noticeable job of stopping different fish species from swimming upstream.

In 1977, Philadelphia began building its first fish ladder, reestablishing a historic migration route for shad, a species of fish. With the project in full swing, by 1984, newly striped bass were seen upstream at the Flat Rock Dam in Manayunk, the first population to do so in the Schuylkill in over 150 years. Jump to 2011: over 3,000 shad were climbing the ladder, compared to the dozens of fish seen a year before improvements. Today, the fish ladder is still being used to help fish and river otters to relocate and repopulate.