WCN’s California Wildlife Program (CWP) is happy to report that the primary puma has been recorded utilizing a recently-constructed wildlife crossing below CA Freeway 17 in Santa Cruz County. A CWP grant to the Land Belief of Santa Cruz County made it attainable to watch the effectiveness of this necessary crossing, which has now been efficiently utilized by puma, bobcats, grey foxes, and deer. See the video beneath to look at this puma safely crossing beneath the freeway:
Building was accomplished in 2022 following greater than a decade of regular work led by the Land Belief of Santa Cruz County and Caltrans, and was knowledgeable by years of analysis by the UCSC Puma Mission and Pathways for Wildlife. The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Fee and Graniterock had been additionally key contributors, illustrating the in depth collaborations that introduced this undertaking to fruition.
CWP was instrumental in funding the monitoring for the finished crossing, permitting all events to measure the effectiveness of this undertaking, together with by way of movies just like the certainly one of this puma. This crossing is positioned in an important location for wildlife connectivity, however extra crossings like this are wanted all through California. CWP is presently working with many teams to get extra crossings constructed to supply secure journey throughout busy roadways for pumas and numerous different wildlife.
Autor David Vasquez
