10 Awesome Wildlife Crossings in the World
Highways slice through forests and other habitats as if they got there first, while wildlife usually suffer the consequences. Thanks to engineering, animal crossings have reduced collisions and other mishaps. These structures blend into forests, tunnel under train tracks, and even launch fish through the air. Others are specifically designed for red crabs working on a strict schedule. We count down ten of the world’s most awesome crossings.
Banff’s Trans-Canada Overpasses, Alberta, Canada
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
In Banff National Park, the Trans-Canada Highway used to be a brutal obstacle course for elk, bears, and wolves. Parks Canada responded with a network of six wildlife overpasses plus 38 underpasses along the upgraded corridor. Long fencing steers animals toward the safe routes, and monitoring has shown heavy use.
Natuurbrug Zanderij Crailoo, Netherlands
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
This Dutch mega-bridge resembles a park that accidentally wandered over a highway. Natuurbrug Zanderij Crailoo spans more than 0.8 km, reconnecting heathlands and forests near Hilversum. It even crosses roadways, a railway line, and built-up areas, so animals don’t get boxed in by human infrastructure.
Red Crab Bridges And Tunnels, Christmas Island (Australia)
Credit: Facebook
Christmas Island’s red crab migration is so intense that it can pause normal life. To keep millions of crabs from becoming traffic confetti, Parks Australia uses purpose-built crab bridges, tunnels, and temporary barrier walls that funnel the marching crustaceans to safe passage. Timing matters because their migrations are linked to rain and tide cycles. Tourists flock to watch the spectacle.
JR West Turtle “Tunnel,” Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Credit: Facebook
Slow-moving turtles kept getting stuck on railway tracks, causing delays and deaths. Japanese railway engineers built tiny tunnels directly under the rails at crossing points where turtles frequently got trapped. These passageways are large enough for a turtle to walk through. Trains zip overhead at high speeds while turtles amble safely underneath, oblivious to the bullet trains passing above them.
Elephant Underpass, Northern Kenya
Credit: Instagram
Northern Kenya has an elephant underpass that allows herds to move beneath a busy highway instead of through villages and traffic. Conservation groups documented elephants using the corridor, which helps reconnect habitats and reduce human-wildlife conflict. “Save the Elephants” has highlighted how this kind of passage can reunite separated populations. While it’s not flashy, the structure’s impact is massive, as it even serves other wildlife.
Mule Deer Crossings, Elko County, Nevada, USA
Credit: Youtube
In rural Elko County, mule deer migrations cross US-93 and I-80, which used to mean ugly collisions. Nevada partners built wildlife crossing structures and fencing to restore that historic route and cut crash risk. The effort reconnects deer to more than 1.5 million acres of seasonal habitat, according to “NDOT partners.”
Camel Crossings And Fenced Highways, Saudi Arabia
Credit: Instagram
Saudi Arabia treats camel crossings like serious road safety gear, not a side project. The General Authority for Roads cited stray animals in 426 crashes, resulting in 5 deaths from January to November 2025. Authorities direct people to designated camel-crossing points, and officials have warned that cutting road fencing can result in heavy fines. One of these overpasses crosses the Riyadh–Dammam highway, part of a broader push to keep camels and cars from colliding.
The Salmon Cannon, Columbia River
Credit: Youtube
Columbia River dams block salmon from reaching their spawning grounds, threatening the fish’s survival. The “Whooshh Fish Transport System” solved this with pneumatic tubes that shoot fish through the air. A salmon swims into the entrance, gets scanned for species identification, and whooshes over the dam in seconds. About 40 fish can make the journey per minute compared to traditional fish ladders, which stress the animals and take longer.
Nutty Narrows Bridge, Longview, Washington, USA
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Builder Amos Peters watched squirrels dodge traffic in Longview, Washington, and decided to solve it in 1963. He constructed a 60-foot suspension bridge exclusively for squirrels. The current version is an upgraded aluminum structure that resembles a miniature Golden Gate Bridge. The town embraced this landmark so enthusiastically that there’s now an annual Squirrel Fest celebration. The city even adopted “Nutty Narrows” as a nickname.
Parleys Canyon Wildlife Overpass, Utah, USA
Credit: Facebook
Utah’s Parleys Canyon wildlife overpass is located above six lanes of I-80 near Park City. After its completion in 2018, animals started using it sooner than expected. “UDOT” paired the bridge with miles of fencing to funnel deer and moose toward the crossing. Later research estimated it had caused lifetime savings by reducing collisions. UDOT has asked the public to stay off the overpass so wildlife can continue utilizing it.