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Summer 2026 |
Newsletter Archive |
New Resources for Prairie Wildlife Crossings |  |
Sharing two years of biodiversity monitoring results and practical guidance for designing wildlife crossing structures The Pronghorn Xing team wrapped up a two-year biodiversity monitoring program at six proposed pronghorn enhancement sites along the Trans-Canada Highway. At each site, we installed four remote wildlife cameras and two autonomous recording units (ARUs) to understand what wildlife would benefit from the proposed pronghorn enhancement sites. Our monitoring documented a rich variety of prairie species, including several species at risk such as American badger, Great Plains toad, bullsnake, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Ferruginous Hawk, and multiple other grassland bird species. To share the findings, we’ve developed a technical report and a graphic summary highlighting the diversity of wildlife using these landscapes. Alongside the monitoring, we conducted a literature review and targeted expert interviews to create Wildlife crossing structure design: Pronghorn and Grassland Species Guidance which links species ecology and movement behaviour to actionable design solutions for transportation planning. Key design features include physical passage dimensions, substrate and microhabitat, disturbances, and behavioural considerations for hoofed wildlife, small to medium sized predators, reptiles and amphibians, and six grassland bird guilds. Together, this research provides an evidence-based foundation for designing infrastructure that supports pronghorn and the many other grassland species that share Alberta's prairie landscapes. Pronghorn Xing is a partnership between Alberta Conservation Association, Canadian Wildlife Federation and the Miistakis Institute. Funders This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change. Ce projet a été réalisé avec l'appui financier du gouvernement du Canada agissant par l'entremise du ministère fédéral de l'Environnement et du Changement climatique. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation with support from the Bezos Earth Fund, Burger King, Capri Holdings, and Cargill Parks Canada's National Program for Ecological Corridors | |