Conservationists urge funding for highway wildlife crossings to cut collisions and protect species

A conservation advocate told the committees that Virginia should fund wildlife crossing projects to reduce vehicle‑wildlife collisions, protect biodiversity and leverage federal funding.

The Nut Graf: Dr. Jess Roberts of Wild Virginia urged lawmakers to support a budget amendment that would fund wildlife crossings such as underpasses and exclusionary fencing, citing state research that crossings can reduce wildlife‑vehicle collisions by as much as 96 percent.

Roberts cited statewide statistics: Virginia ranks ninth nationally for wildlife‑vehicle collisions, with over 60,000 deer or big‑game crashes annually and an estimated per‑incident cost of $4,100 (witness cited data from the Virginia Transportation Research Council). She noted that crossings also can improve stream and flood resilience when paired with natural channel design.

What lawmakers heard: The witness asked the committees to provide start‑up funding to advance projects that could then be matched with federal funds and included in transportation planning. No committee action followed the testimony.

Ending: The witness asked lawmakers to consider wildlife crossing funding as a public safety and infrastructure resilience investment that could reduce injuries, property damage and ecological fragmentation.