Live Wildly Study Shows Cost-Efficient Wildlife Crossings for Florida Communities

A new study commissioned by Live Wildly and prepared by engineering firm FDA | Prime AE has revealed that constructing wildlife crossings in Florida can provide communities with a substantial return on investment. The study shows that for every dollar spent on building wildlife crossings, communities can expect to see $10 in public benefits, making these structures a smart investment for both public safety and environmental conservation.

According to the study, wildlife crossings paired with fencing can reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by 87% or more. These crossings are critical for protecting endangered species like Florida panthers and black bears, which are frequently killed on Florida roads. Between 2014 and 2022, more than 20 panthers each year were hit by vehicles on Florida roads, and an average of about 250 black bears a year have been killed by vehicles over the past decade.

The study provides a comprehensive guide for Florida communities, outlining cost-saving strategies and funding resources to build local wildlife crossings. Meredith Budd, Deputy Director of Live Wildly, emphasized that the study can serve as a roadmap for communities to identify cost-effective ways to construct these structures.

The benefits of wildlife crossings extend beyond just reducing animal-vehicle collisions. A single wildlife crossing with an expected 70-year lifespan can lead to 1,400 fewer collisions, an average of 1.4 fewer passenger fatalities, 60 fewer injuries, $1.6 million in savings from avoided vehicle damage, $43,000 in savings from avoided roadkill disposal costs, $23,000 in savings from avoided towing and police costs, and 1,200 fewer animal fatalities. Additionally, the study found that a single wildlife crossing supports $2.1 million in ecological benefits by returning animals to their natural movement patterns, which supports healthy lands and waters critical to agriculture production, clean drinking water, carbon sequestration, and pollination.

The study also highlights the need to incorporate ecological data and connectivity objectives early in the planning process to avoid costly redesigns. It identifies lower-cost materials and construction methods, such as corrugated metal structures, modular precast components, and bundling crossings into already-planned road or bridge projects, which can bring costs down substantially. The study points local governments to federal programs that can help pay for crossings, including the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, the Highway Safety Improvement Program, and the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program.

Communities can maximize the public safety, environmental, and financial impacts of wildlife crossings by retrofitting existing bridges and culverts to create pathways for animals, incorporating wildlife connectivity into local comprehensive and transportation plans, prioritizing locations with conservation lands on both sides of the road, and developing partnerships with non-government organizations for funding and technical support.

The Florida Wildlife Corridor, established in 2021, spans 18 million acres and stretches from the Everglades to the Panhandle. This network of connected lands and waters supports almost 2,000 different species, including the Florida panther, manatees, and the gopher tortoise. The corridor also supports more than 100,000 jobs and generates $30 billion in annual revenue through recreation, tourism, agriculture, and other industries.

The full study is available at livewildly.com/wp-content/uploads/FINAL_Study-for-Cost-Reducing-Strategies-for-Wildlife-Crossing-Features_Aug2026-_.pdf.