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Read the article on this page. Then answer the questions below!
What is this article about?
n Canada’s Banff National Park, many animals used to get hurt or even killed trying to cross the busy highway that runs through the park. Then, in the 1990s, people had a great idea to build special bridges and tunnels for animals to cross the road!
What did the people in this article do?
When did this happen?
The park built two kinds of crossings:
Where did this happen?
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Overpasses: These are bridges planted to look like the forest, so animals feel safe using them. Underpasses: These are tunnels that go under the road. They are quiet and dark, so animals feel safe.
It takes a while, but after some time, animals learn that these bridges and tunnels are safe. Pictures taken from special cameras show animals safely using the crossings.
Banff’s animal bridges are famous and other countries are building their own. In the United States, wildlife crossings can be found in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and Florida. Several other states are planning to add wildlife crossings to make travel safer for people and animals.
Why is this important?
Animals need to cross the road to search for food, water, or a place to sleep. Some animals travel to find a mate or take care of their young. Banff National Park’s wildlife crossing system now has six overpasses and 38 underpasses to help animals travel safely. Since the park started building these crossings, car and animal accidents have gone down by over 80%. That means fewer animals are hurt, and people are safer, too.
Photo: Sergey Dzyuba / Shutterstock
© Vicki Whiting September 2025
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