Southern California’s 10-lane Highway 101, which sees approximately 400,000 vehicles daily, will soon be home to the largest urban wildlife crossing globally. Currently, portions of Highway 101 cut through Los Angeles, isolating wildlife from their natural habitat and impacting species survival.
Over the past two decades, at least 26 mountain lions have lost their lives attempting to cross the highway. To address this issue, California is constructing a wildlife walking corridor to allow animals to safely traverse this section of the highway.
Wildlife advocates emphasize that this crossing will not only prevent wildlife fatalities but also facilitate mountain lion breeding and their access to food.
“There are very few people who don’t get upset when they see a dead animal on the side of the road,” Beth Pratt, the regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation, told CBS News. “So I think this is something that within a time when we agree on very little, we pretty much agree on wildlife crossings.”
These crossings are not unique to the United States. Across 43 states, there are more than 1,500 wildlife crossings. For instance, the wildlife bridge on Snoqualmie Pass near Seattle, Washington, allows coyotes, elk, deer, and other animals to safely move from one side of Interstate-90 to the other.
Internationally, Australia has also implemented similar solutions. On Christmas Island National Park, a bridge assists millions of red crabs during their migration to the ocean, preventing collisions with passing cars.
California’s upcoming Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing will blend seamlessly into the natural habitat on both sides of Highway 101, providing animals with easier access to food, shelter and mates.
Upon completion in early 2026, it will claim the title of the world’s largest wildlife crossing.
