Ep 20. Wild Ways

NOVA season 43 episode 20, titled "Wild Ways," explores the impact of roads on wildlife and how engineers and biologists have been working together to create safe passages for animals. The episode takes the audience on a journey to various locations across the globe to show how animals are impacted by roads and highways, and what strategies have been put in place to mitigate these effects.

The first part of the episode looks at how highways have affected wildlife in Florida. The Florida panther, which was once on the brink of extinction, was significantly impacted by habitat fragmentation caused by highways. The episode illustrates how underpasses and bridges were built to allow these endangered animals to safely pass under or over highways to reach their habitats. The show interviews legendary conservation biologist Michael Soulé, who pioneered the concept of corridors that connect habitat patches, allowing animals to move from one area to another.

The show then moves to Wyoming, where engineers and biologists studied the movements of pronghorn sheep and mule deer to design effective crossing structures. The episode demonstrates how designing these wildlife crossings can be incredibly complex and require a thorough understanding of animal behavior to be effective.

The episode next looks at how wildlife crossings need to be long and wide enough to accommodate larger animals such as bears, elk, and moose. The show travels to Montana to see how tunnels under railroad tracks were made more inviting to animals by adding daylight and vegetation, resulting in a significant increase in the number of animals using them.

The show then follows the construction of a massive wildlife crossing in Banff National Park, a multiyear project that involved cooperation between engineers, biologists, and park officials. The episode shows how the crossing was designed to be appealing to a variety of animals and how cameras and GPS collars are used to monitor their use.

Finally, the episode examines how the Netherlands, a country known for its dense network of highways and infrastructure, has created a comprehensive system of wildlife crossings. The show highlights the immense amount of planning, research, and collaboration required to create a successful network of crossings.

Throughout the episode, the importance of preserving wildlife and preserving their habitat is emphasized. The show illustrates not only how highways and infrastructure have affected wildlife but also how engineers and biologists working together can create successful wildlife crossings. Overall, "Wild Ways" provides a fascinating insight into the intersection of ecology and engineering.