Safe Passage

The I-40 Pigeon River Gorge Wildlife Crossing Project

Help us build a way to get animals safely across I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge.

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“C’mon baby!”

To cross or not to cross?

For wildlife whose ancestors have traversed our landscapes for centuries in search of food, mates, and territory, this is not the question. Their instinct is to continue moving across age-old geographical paths. 

But humans have made this natural migration more and more difficult by fragmenting large sections of protected forest, bisecting them with huge roads fraught with heavy, fast-moving vehicles. 

The resulting rise in collisions with large mammals has become a serious concern not only for conservation, but also for human safety, economics and culture. 

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Video courtesy of Susan Detwiler. While driving through the Pigeon River Gorge, Susan and her husband captured this hold-your-breath moment, which demonstrates the dangerous plight of wildlife navigating our roadways. They sent us this video in support of the work being done to help these animals.

Meet the Animals

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Help Them Cross

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We’re In This Together

Nearly a hundred professionals and staff from more than 20 partner organizations contribute their time, skills, and technical assistance. Together, we are working to create opportunities for wildlife to safely cross Interstate 40 in the Pigeon River Gorge. 

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Latest News

Documentary produced by Wildlands Network, NPCA to be featured at Boone Docs film fest

Posted on January 26, 2023

"The Search for Safe Passage," a short film produced by Wildlands Network and National Parks Conservation Association, is set to make its big screen debut at the Boone Docs Film Festival, held in Boone, North Carolina, on Saturday, Feb. 25.

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Crosby helped inspire ‘A Search for Safe Passage,’ allusions to his lyrics made throughout the book

Posted on January 20, 2023

Legendary singer-songwriter David Crosby, who passed away on Jan. 19 at age 81, inspired "A Search for Safe Passage" author Frances Figart, and his music is alluded to in the book.

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Safe Passage partners with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Posted on January 7, 2023

Safe Passage is a project whose foundation and strengths are partnership and collaboration. In 2019, National Parks Conservation Association and Wildlands Network partnered on a two-year research project to identify mortality hotspots and solutions to wildlife deaths along a 28-mile stretch of Interstate 40 in...

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In the News: Berea College Magazine publishes ‘A Search for Safe Passage’ author reflection

Posted on January 6, 2023

In a December article for Berea College Magazine, "A Search for Safe Passage" author and Berea alumna Frances Figart reflected on all that led up to her work advocating for safe wildlife crossings in the Pigeon River Gorge and beyond.

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Safe Passage receives grant from Community Foundation of WNC

Posted on December 20, 2022

Members of the Safe Passage Fund Coalition are grateful to announce that the organization recently received funding for its communications and outreach work through a grant from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.

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Bears at guardrail image courtesy of Bridget Donaldson, Virginia Transportation Research Council.