Target: Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Washington, D.C.
Goal: Extend and expand the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program so proven overpasses and underpasses continue reducing wildlife-vehicle crashes that kill people and animals.
Autumn road trips bring color and risk. Deer and other large animals move more in fall, and a split second can turn a family drive or motorcycle ride into catastrophe. Each year in the United States, an estimated 1–2 million large animals are killed on roads, with damage running into billions and hundreds of human deaths. Motorcyclists face outsized danger, as recent state studies show. These crashes are predictable, preventable, and costly.
There is a fix. Purpose-built wildlife overpasses and underpasses with fencing guide animals safely across highways. Where networks of crossings and fencing are installed, wildlife-vehicle collisions can drop by as much as 97%. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program has already helped nearly 30 states plan and build these structures, and many projects are underway. The program saves deer, elk, moose, bears, and it protects drivers, riders, first responders.
This life-saving funding sunsets in September 2026. Ending it now would strand shovel-ready projects and stall new corridors just as agencies gain momentum. Sign below to demand the Department keep projects moving, champion additional awards, and formally ask Congress to reauthorize and scale the program in the next surface transportation package. The right crossing in the right place turns a deadly curve into a safe passage.
PETITION LETTER:
Secretary Duffy,
Fall traffic brings a surge in wildlife movement, and with it a spike in dangerous collisions. Studies from multiple states show motorcyclists are especially at risk in deer strikes, and nationwide totals include millions of animals killed, billions in damage, and hundreds of human deaths each year. Wildlife crossings with fencing are a proven countermeasure that can cut these crashes dramatically where deployed.
We respectfully urge the Department to extend and expand the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program. Please:
• Accelerate current grant timelines and technical assistance so projects open sooner
• Publish a public dashboard that tracks crash reductions and cost savings from funded sites
• Request congressional reauthorization and increased funding to scale crossings and fencing on high-conflict corridors, including state highways and federal lands
• Prioritize hotspots for motorcyclists and school-bus routes, and require maintenance plans so structures perform for decades
With continued federal leadership, states can keep building the crossings that save drivers and animals. Let’s lock in this success before the program expires and prevent tragedies that we know how to stop.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Steven Pavlov
