Short Wave
Animal Crossing: The Destructive Nature of Roads
Sep 13, 2023
Ben Goldfarb, an environmental journalist and author of "Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet," dives into the hidden chaos caused by our vast network of roads. He explores how roadways disrupt ecosystems and lead to alarming declines in amphibian populations, while sharing stories of wildlife adapting to these dangers. Goldfarb also introduces innovative solutions like highway overpasses and wildlife crossings, showcasing a hopeful path toward coexistence between roads and nature.
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Quick takeaways
- Roads act as barriers to wildlife habitats and migrations, causing mass deaths among amphibians and severing genetic connectivity.
- Birds living near highways have evolved shorter wings over time to enhance maneuverability and reduce vulnerability to traffic.
Deep dives
Impact of roads on wildlife
Roads have a significant impact on wildlife, severing habitats and blocking migrations. The growing road system is causing mass deaths among amphibians, with roads acting as barriers to their breeding pools. Contrary to expectations, busy roads actually have fewer roadkill incidents because they have already reduced the local population. The negative effects of roads extend beyond roadkill, as they also cut off animal movement and genetic connectivity. In response to these challenges, wildlife crossings like underpasses and overpasses have been developed to mitigate the impact on wildlife.
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