$150K Grant Will Help Salamanders Cross the Road Safely!

I love this piece of news I just read! The reason behind the happy news is sad, but the end result Happy! And I loooove happy! The Monkton Conservation Commission in Monkton, Vermont won a $150K state grant that will be used to build two culverts under a stretch of road populated with a large number of amphibians.  The wildlife crossing will help salamanders, other amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals to safely maneuver from one end of the swamp to another without the risk of being hit by vehicles.  I love it! According to Reptile expert Jim Andrews, the crossing is "one of the most important of the known amphibian crossings in the state." 

Animals are constantly being struck and killed on roadways across the world.  It kills me when I hear about animals being struck and killed on roadways across the world. Here in San Francisco, I've even see a fallen deer on the side of the freeway, and of course, my eyes instantly well up and I can't get the image out of my head. Now, if I even sense that a bundle at the side of the road might be an animal, I very consciously stare straight ahead. Luckily, the few times I instinctively glance over, it's a big ol' tire or a back of garbage. Garbage. Lovely. But hey, I'd rather see a bag of garbage over a poor animal. A few months ago a black bear cub in Florida stumbled onto a busy highway and was hit by a car.  Similar instances involving cattle, foxes, and mountain cats have occurred increasingly more and more each and every year. I don't even want to think about it.

The good, no, GREAT news, is that preventive measures like the ones being taken by Monkton help protect motorists as well as animals.  Dangerous collisions with wildlife claim their fair share of human casualties as well.  Citizens can take a stance and require stricter legislature regarding clear cutting and statewide funding for wildlife preserves.  Concerned communities can also take advantage of the number of grants designated for these purposes.  If it worked for Monkton, it can work for your city!

Defenders of Wildlife helped create the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program (SWG) to "encourage proactive wildlife conservation by federal agencies, state agencies and Indian tribes."  Over $68 million worth of funding grants are awarded each year by Congress to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 6 U.S. territories in an attempt to develop biodiversity conservation programs.  Presenting their ideas regarding the use of funds can help state and local representatives receive their fair share of grant money.  The overall goal is to protect as much natural habitat as possible to prevent animals from traveling across roadways and distracting motorists.