Safe Passage: The I-40 Pigeon River Gorge Wildlife Crossing Project

Mar 6

The increasing impact of human movement is evident in the Pigeon River Gorge of Western North Carolina and Tennessee. Every day, rain or shine, elk, white tail deer, black bears, bobcats, raccoons, opossums, and many other animals attempt a perilous journey across Interstate 40 between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Pisgah National Forest in search of food, mates, and habitat.

This disconnectedness from habitat and resources is not just a problem for animals, however. Across the U.S., an estimated 1.25 million insurance claims are filed annually due to animal strikes involving deer, elk, or other large ungulates. Many of these claims involve injury or death to the animal, driver, and passengers.

There is a proven solution to this problem. Wildlife crossings in the region and in other areas threatened by habitat fragmentation are reducing collisions between vehicles and animals. Safe Passage, a coalition of over twenty conservation organizations, government agencies, nonprofit park partners and other community members believe it is possible to balance the needs of native wildlife with the ever-growing human population. The coalition, through its I-40 Pigeon River Gorge Wildlife Crossing Project initiated in 2017, is working to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and increase habitat connectivity along this 28-mile stretch of highway that divides the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Pisgah National Forest.

You can view one recently completed wildlife crossing installed during NC DOT’s bridge replacement at Harmon Den Exit 7, NC in this video. The Harmon Den site is an excellent example of physical infrastructure to mitigate collisions between vehicles and animals that contains lifesaving measures such as cattle guards, jump outs, fencing, and underpasses.

Safe Passage: The I-40 Pigeon River Gorge Wildlife Crossing Project is ongoing and further progress will be made due to the efforts of coalition members and concerned individuals like you.

Please consider taking the Safe Passage Pledge to improve your everyday driving and living habits to benefit animals and people. No matter what your passage home looks like, we can all work together to make our journeys safer for our families and wildlife.

How can you help? Please visit the links below to become involved, donate, and sign the Safe Passage pledge to help keep wildlife safe!

Public Involvement: https://smokiessafepassage.org/get-involved/

Donation Page: https://www.wildlandsnetwork.org/safepassage-donate/

Safe Passage Pledge: https://smokiessafepassage.org/pledge/