establish ecological corridors on state highways to protect the wildlife of Minnesota

 

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that man-made connectivity corridors along state highways are built by the State

of Minnesota in order to protect the native and endangered wildlife. The creation of wildlife connectivity corridors

will not only help protect our natural environment, but to protect motorists from accidental collisions with wildlife

that stray onto highways. The goal of this bill is to use a humane approach to wildlife safety that also protects the

interests of motorists on Minnesota highways.

 

Every year, there have been an estimated 35,000 wildlife-vehicle collisions in the state of Minnesota. These accidental

collisions can cause tens of millions of dollars in property damage and are a large risk to public safety, endangering

not only wildlife, but also motorists who use state highways. This bill is proposed as a way of helping restore

ecosystems that have been disturbed from the construction of state highways. Connectivity corridors not only reduce

habitat fragmentation by allowing wildlife to safely cross highways, but also help retain ecological balance through the

dispersal of terrestrial and aquatic wildlife. Studies have shown that wildlife corridors can reduce wildlife-related

accidents by up to 90% in areas where they are installed. In addition, this bill is cost-effective.The strategic

investment in the establishment of ecological corridors on state highways has been found to be a cost-effective solution

to reducing accidental collisions and retaining ecological function and can provide large savings to motorists, reducing

automobile repair costs by preventing accidental collisions. Such a bill was enacted in California in 2022.

 

Wildlife shall be defined as the non-domesticated animals that normally live in a natural habitat.

Connectivity wildlife corridors shall be defined as accessible ways allowing wildlife to cross a highway, for example,

overpasses or underpasses.

Habitat fragmentation shall be defined as the separation of wildlife and entire ecosystems, oftentimes due to man-made

construction like state highways.

State highways shall be defined as a road maintained by the State of Minnesota.

 

Funding for this bill will involve a nominal 2% increase in vehicle tax paid every year by Minnesota motorists.

 

Highways are constructed by the State of Minnesota, and it is reasonable to expect that a State will not violate its own

laws.

 

This bill will take effect on June 1, 2026.