If you live in a rural or Western state, this issue probably feels personal. Vehicle encounters with deer, elk, or other wildlife on the road aren’t rare and when they happen, the consequences can be serious or even deadly for drivers and passengers, not to mention the animals themselves.
Every year, wildlife-vehicle collisions injure thousands of Americans and kill millions of animals. The costs of these crashes don’t stop there; car repairs are expensive, insurance premiums rise, and emergency responses are costing taxpayers millions. The good news is that many of these accidents are preventable.
A Solution That Works
Wildlife crossings, overpasses, underpasses, and strategic fencing aren’t experimental ideas. They’re proven infrastructure solutions already saving lives across the country. When placed correctly, wildlife crossings can reduce collisions by up to 97 percent.
That means safer roads for families, fewer emergency calls in rural areas, less vehicle damage, and healthier wildlife populations that can move safely across the landscape. It’s a practical approach that protects people and respects the land without new mandates or unnecessary red tape.
Why Action Is Needed Now
The federal Wildlife Road Crossings Program is set to expire this year. If Congress doesn’t act, ongoing and planned projects in Montana, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and communities across the country could be delayed or abandoned.
States, Tribes, and local governments need certainty in order to plan and complete these multi-year safety projects. Permanently authorizing this program would provide that stability, ensuring communities can follow through on solutions that are already working.
Bipartisan Leadership, Commonsense Results
H.R. 6078 is led by U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke (R–MT) and U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D–VA), demonstrating bipartisan leadership around a commonsense public safety solution.
The bill would permanently authorize the Wildlife Road Crossings Program and ensure proven safety measures continue nationwide. It also provides 100 percent federal funding for Tribal wildlife crossings, making life-saving projects possible in places where they might otherwise never happen.
Supporting wildlife crossings isn’t about expanding government — it’s about making smart, responsible investments that protect lives, reduce costs, and strengthen communities. Fewer crashes mean lower emergency response costs, less property damage, and safer roads for everyone.
This is exactly the kind of practical stewardship conservatives should support.
Take Action
If Congress allows this program to expire, we risk undoing years of progress and putting more people and wildlife in harm’s way.
Take action here.
