How Did The Crab Cross The Road?

By Petslady @petslady


Thousands of native animals are killed by vehicles every year as they cross the world's roads, which often run right through their natural habitats. One way humans have found to reduce these animal deaths is to erect species-friendly overpasses 'for animals only' to cross the roads. 

A few such overpasses were built strictly for the red crabs that live on Australia's Christmas Island that every year march from the rainforest to the sea in order to breed. 

Red crabs flock to the shore of Christmas Island, Australia, every year to mate.: Image: Max Orchard via abc.net.au

An estimated 500,000 crabs a year were killed every migration season on the roads, but these crab overpasses, built by the Christmas Island National Park rangers, have kept thousands from becoming road kill.

Crab overpass on Christmas Island, Austrailia: image via abc.net.au

 Barriers keep the crabs off the road and guide them to the overpass: image via abc.net.au

It's not just crabs that have overpasses to thank for their lives. In Baniff National Park, Alberta, Canada, there are 41 crossing stations for animals along the Trans-Canada Highway. The animals, including bears, elks, and cougars, cross the overpasses and underpasses, which are filled with plants from their natural habitats in order to encourage the animals to use them.

Wildlife overpass, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada: Parks Canada via theworldgeography.com

The Netherlands was one of the first countries to build animal overpasses, or ecoducts, as they are called.  There are now over 600 wildlife crossings in The Netherlands, used by wild boar, deer, and even the endangered European badger.

Ecoduct in the Veluwe nature area, The Netherlands: image via theworldgeography.com

Here's an 'animal bridge' outside of Missoula, Montana in an Indian reservation. What a beautiful setting!

Animal bridge outside of Missoula, Montana: image credit: The Pedigree Artist, via theworldgeography.com

There are many more dedicated animal crossings around the world but to be sure, there are not enough. Next time you're asked how did the (blank) cross the street, you can say you hope it was on an overpass.


sources: The World Geography via Care2,
ABC

That's the buzz for today!