wildlife crossing

Human society is more connected than ever. Between mobile phones and internet applications, we can connect with each other instantaneously, around the globe.

And more traditionally, the United States alone is home to nearly 4 million miles of roads, structures which, for many of us, have only served to enhance our sense of connectedness to the cities we live in, to our families and friends, and to the larger world around us. Yet, these same roads that connect people have the opposite effect to the natural world, extracting an extreme toll on the plants and animals around us, and in many unexpected ways.

And roads and highways are just the tip of the iceberg. Join us as we unravel the many complex dimensions of wildlife connectivity while revealing the surprising toll that human activity has inflicted on the movement of species. Join your guide, Griff Griffith, as he is helped by experts Ben Goldfarb, Beth Pratt, and Robert Rock, who will also teach us how we can help restore essential links while supporting the health of the living beings around us.

FULL SHOW NOTE ON JUMPSTARTNATURE.COM

Beyond a podcast, Jumpstart Nature is a movement fueled by volunteers, igniting a fresh approach to reconnecting people with the natural world. In the face of our pressing climate and biodiversity challenges, we're on a mission to help you discover newfound purpose and motivation.

Join us in this vital journey towards nature's revival. Explore more and show your support at jumpstartnature.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

For even deeper nature insights, delve into our companion podcast, Nature's Archive.

Links to Topics Discussed

Anthropophony

Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet, by Ben Goldfarb

Lights Out Program from the Audubon Society

Living Habitats, Robert Rock's landscape design company

Phantom Road Experiment

Save LA Cougars

Wildlife and urban development don’t usually go well together. Roads in particular fracture the habitats of wide-ranging animals. It restricts their movements and makes it harder for them to find food or a mate. But biologists and urban planners have started working together –- crafting a plan to try to help pumas move more safely around the city. And in the process this one cat, dubbed P-22, has turned into something of a celebrity—the symbol of a movement to redesign our cities and make the built environment more friendly to animals.

Cougar Town

This week, Sarah  talks about the wildlife crossing bridge in Summit County that you maybe didn't know was there...but you'll be really glad it is.