Mule deer already using incomplete $20m wildlife bridge in California A new $20 million wildlife bridge in Siskiyou County, California, has already been used by mule deer, marking a significant achievement for Caltrans. This structure, the first of its kind over a major highway in the state, is designed to enhance driver safety and decrease fatalities among migrating animals. Its effectiveness is expected to be amplified by adjacent fencing, which is crucial for guiding wildlife to the crossing and preventing roadkill.

• California’s first wildlife over-crossing, costing $20 million, is located in Siskiyou County over Route 97.
• The bridge has already been used by mule deer, a bobcat, and other wildlife, captured by camera traps.
• The primary goal of the crossing and its associated fencing is to improve driver safety and reduce animal mortality on highways.
• Vehicle crashes involving wildlife are described as a “damaging and preventable natural disaster,” causing significant losses to both animals and drivers.
• California drivers kill approximately 50,000 mule deer annually, representing about 10% of the state’s deer population.
• The Wallis Annenberg wildlife crossing in southern California, scheduled to open soon, will be the world’s largest.
• Fraser Shilling of the Road Ecology Center praised Caltrans for funding the innovative crossing.