New Jersey Senate votes to establish ‘Wildlife Corridor Action Plan’

The New Jersey Senate voted 40-0 to pass legislation to establish a “Wildlife Corridor Action Plan.”

According to the legislation, a wildlife corridor is a swath of land near wildlife populations. Wildlife may move freely without risk of injury or death from motor vehicles or interference from other man-made barriers.

The Wildlife Corridor Action Plan would, in part, identify wildlife corridors, wildlife-vehicle collision hotspots and existing or planned barriers to wildlife movement along these corridors. It would also prioritize projects that promote vehicle driver safety and wildlife connectivity.

While motorists are most at risk from deer-vehicle collisions, road crossings still negatively impact other wildlife.

For example, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection lists the bog turtle as an endangered species in the state largely because of restricted and declining habitats. The DEP notes that road crossings particularly negatively impact turtles.