The Frontenac Arch, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, is one of Canada's most biodiverse regions, home to many at-risk species. This area forms a critical habitat linkage connecting Northern Ontario’s boreal forests to the Appalachian Mountain chain of Eastern North America, ultimately acting as the stepping stones in a continentally significant wildlife corridor.
Yet, roads like Highway 401 cut through this vital habitat, disrupting wildlife movement and leading to alarming rates of wildlife-vehicle collisions and wildlife mortality. A2A's Right to Roam report offers a bold strategy to restore connectivity, reduce roadkill, and improve motorist safety on three ...
The Frontenac Arch, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, is one of Canada's most biodiverse regions, home to many at-risk species. This area forms a critical habitat linkage connecting Northern Ontario’s boreal forests to the Appalachian Mountain chain of Eastern North America, ultimately acting as the stepping stones in a continentally significant wildlife corridor.
Yet, roads like Highway 401 cut through this vital habitat, disrupting wildlife movement and leading to alarming rates of wildlife-vehicle collisions and wildlife mortality. A2A's Right to Roam report offers a bold strategy to restore connectivity, reduce roadkill, and improve motorist safety on three major roadways in the Frontenac Arch region. Most critically, the construction of wildlife crossing structures is desperately needed on Highway 401, where at least 5,000 animals are killed each year.
Wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) are not only an ecological issue but also a major safety concern, causing severe accidents, injuries, and fatalities. These collisions cost Canadians up to $800 million annually, with Ontario reporting over 14,000 WVCs each year. Without proper wildlife crossings, the planned Highway 401 expansion will worsen the problem. Proven solutions, like those in Western Canada, have reduced WVCs by over 80%.
As climate change intensifies, the need for action grows. Declining ice cover on the St. Lawrence River and shifting species ranges are funnelling animals through the Thousand Islands region, increasing wildlife movement across this busy highway. Preserving this landscape connectivity is crucial for the long-term ecological function and resilience of the A2A region.
Please join the Algonquin to Adirondacks Collaborative in urging the Government of Ontario to back the Right to Roam report’s recommendations, specifically the construction of three wildlife overpasses on Highway 401.