Footbridges reduce wildlife roadkill

Something I never really thought about when traveling through national parks is the effect highways can have on wildlife (other than don't pull over and try to feed them). But highways can be linear barriers that prevent wildlife from freely roaming their natural feeding and breeding areas. If they try to cross the highway, they might be killed. If they don't cross, they limit access to food and reproductive opportunities.

So these overpasses along the Trans-Canada Highway in Banff National Park are designed to provide access without wildlife having to dash across the highway. They work in conjunction with fencing to direct animals to safe crossings. Do they work? According to the federal government, since fencing and crossing structures were first constructed, wildlife-vehicle collisions have dropped by 80%.