Lawmakers Push to Extend Wildlife Crossings Program Funding to 2031

Efforts to mitigate wildlife-vehicle collisions in the United States have gained momentum as Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Ryan Zinke (R-MT) put forth legislation aimed at solidifying long-term support for crucial wildlife crossing projects. The proposal, termed the Wildlife Road Crossings Program Reauthorization Act, seeks to enshrine the Wildlife Crossings Program within the U.S. Department of Transportation by extending funding through 2031.

Initially established by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Wildlife Crossings Program is a competitive grant initiative designed to fund projects that significantly reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, safeguard migration routes, and enhance the connectivity of habitats. Each year, over a million such collisions are reported nationwide, leading to human and animal fatalities and incurring billions of dollars in damages.

"Every year, more than 1 million wildlife–vehicle collisions are reported across the United States, resulting in human and wildlife fatalities and costing billions of dollars in damages. We know there are proven solutions — such as culverts, bridges and tunnels that allow animals to migrate safely — to reduce these incidents and save lives," explained Rep. Beyer. "Our bill would invest in these solutions by reauthorizing the Wildlife Crossings Program and allowing it to continue funding wildlife-friendly transportation infrastructure that saves lives, lowers costs, and improves road safety for drivers and wildlife alike."

Rep. Zinke highlighted the benefits of these initiatives: "Wildlife crossings save lives and are good for healthy herds. As the Secretary of the Interior I launched the first federal effort to protect big-game migration corridors and dedicate federal dollars to crossings in the west. This bill locks in the progress we started, keeps the funding flowing to the states and tribes that need it most, and ensures Montana families don’t have to risk their lives or lose the wildlife we all cherish driving to work or school."

The full details of the Wildlife Road Crossings Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 can be found here.