Fall 2023

Newsletter Archive

Supporting Wildlife Crossings

In September, Miistakis was invited to participate in a Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative event hosting a delegation from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highways Administration. The Federal Highway Administration oversees the pilot Wildlife Crossing Program, a $350 million granting program designed to reduce wildlife vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species.

This delegation was visiting to learn about wildlife crossings in Canada, specifically the crossings in Banff National Park and the newly constructed overpass at Exshaw, Alberta. Miistakis, as part of an expert panel, presented various Miistakis-led research including considerations for the placement of crossing structures, cost-effectiveness and the importance of considering both animal vehicle collisions and ecological connectivity in the recommended placement of wildlife crossings.

The event also included a field trip to the newly constructed Stoney Nakoda Exshaw Wildlife Arch, Alberta's first wildlife overpass outside of a national park. This field trip highlighted the collaboration needed to achieve this conservation success including leadership from Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors. Additional contributors and partners include Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Dialog, Atlantic Industries Inc., PME, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Stoney Nakoda Nation, Woodcock Foundation, Arc Solutions, Western Transportation Institute and Ecological Design Lab. Congratulations to all partners on this milestone event and thanks for your contributions to ensuring ecological connectivity and safety for humans and wildlife.