Virginia Takes Action to Protect Wildlife and Drivers with New Bill

Richmond, VA -- Every year, thousands of Virginia drivers collide with wildlife, causing devastating injuries and deaths, costing millions of dollars in property damage and emergency services. This session, the Virginia General Assembly is considering HB597, a bill that will put Virginia on a path toward safer roads, healthier wildlife populations, and stronger communities.

Virginia is currently among the top ten states for wildlife-vehicle collisions, yet properly designed crossings can reduce collisions by up to 96%. Beyond driver safety, wildlife corridors maintain healthy ecosystems, support outdoor traditions like hunting and birdwatching, and can even improve flood resilience through better water and aquatic habitat management.

HB597 – Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund

HB597 creates the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund to move Virginia from planning to actually building wildlife crossings. The Fund will support our state agencies’ hard work implementing the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan and provide grants to protect habitat, reduce collisions, and save communities money on property damage and emergency response to collisions. Virginians can contribute to the fund voluntarily via the DMV or on their state income tax return, unlocking federal grant opportunities and multiplying the impact of every dollar donated. Importantly, the fund will not use any of Virginia’s general fund resources.

"If you drive on a Virginia highway, these wildlife corridor bills are for you! These bills are about bringing government agencies together and getting people out of their silos to improve driver safety and protect wildlife. The return on investment for wildlife corridor projects is incredibly high and we need everyone, from state planners to VDOT contractors, to be thinking about how can we reduce vehicle wildlife collisions. Just one underpass combined with fencing can reduce crashes by 96%." — Delegate Simonds, HB597 Sponsor.

"HB 597 gives Virginians a simple, voluntary way to support wildlife crossings that safeguard both drivers and our natural heritage. Every contribution helps turn planning into action, making a real difference in communities across the Commonwealth.” — Delegate Gardner, HB597

Co-sponsor.

“As someone who’s spent his entire adult life on the woods and waters of Virginia, it’s important that we are good stewards of the land and wildlife. Wildlife crossings, when sited properly, will provide safe access for wildlife to get from one side of a highway to another. Not only does this protect the animals, it also protects the driving public from accidents with animals.” — Delegate Fowler, HB597 Co-sponsor.

Citizens and organizations are encouraged to contact their local representatives to support HB597 because safer roads mean safer drivers and thriving wildlife across Virginia.

Organizational Supporter Quotes:

"Safe crossings aren’t just about protecting deer or bears, they protect drivers, save money, and keep Virginia’s incredible wildlife moving freely. With this bill, Virginia is turning planning into action, making roads safer, and securing our natural heritage for future generations." — Misty Boos, U.S. Conservation Policy Manager at Wildlands Network.

“Virginia’s wildlife needs space in order to thrive, but their habitat is increasingly fragmented by roads and buildings, leading to dangerous collisions with drivers. Wildlife crossings are a proven solution to this problem. In order to protect Virginians and the incredible wildlife we live with, we need funding and tools to build wildlife crossings now.” — Connor Ransom, Conservation Associate at Environment Virginia.

"Why did the fish cross the road? It didn’t. It can’t. Every time we build a road without wildlife passage, we lose another bit of our natural heritage." — Philip Latasa, Volunteer Steward at Friends of Accotink Creek.

“Wildlife crossings aren't just about the numbers. We frequently see people requiring care in the ICU or even dying because a deer and a motorcycle were using a road at the same time.” — Dr. Daniel Lollar, ICU trauma surgeon.

"Clean, connected, resilient rivers are critical to species’ survival in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss. That’s why removing dams and improving passage at bridges and culverts is one of the most significant improvements we can make to river health and aquatic habitat restoration." — Pat Calvert, Virginia Director of Conservation at American Rivers.

"Backcountry Hunters & Anglers supports Virginia's Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund as a vital investment in connected, healthy landscapes. By preserving wildlife corridors, we protect Virginia’s natural heritage and ensure all people, whether they hunt, fish, or simply enjoy nature, can experience thriving ecosystems for generations to come." — Christopher Borgatti, Eastern Policy & Conservation Manager at Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.

"The Virginia Wildlife Biodiversity Resilience Corridor has been included as a focus area in Capital Region Land Conservancy's strategic plan. We have already helped conserve over 500 acres in this important corridor with more projects planned. Funding to support landowners in conserving land and for localities to improve safety in this corridor would help achieve many critical conservation goals." — Parker Agelasto, Executive Director at Capital Region Land Conservancy.

“This bill advances Virginia’s progress towards safer roads for motorists and wildlife; wildlife crossings are common-sense approaches that will benefit everyone from hunters and anglers to the daily commuter. Wildlife and aquatic organisms are depending on us to maintain or reconnect their habitats through crossings and corridor connectivity projects; HB597 enables us to deliver!” — Trapper Fowler, Habitat Connectivity Program Director, Wild Virginia.

Full HB597 Supporter List:

American Rivers

Appalachian Trail Conservancy Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Capital Region Land Conservancy Clean Fairfax

Conservation Partners Environment Virginia Friends of Accotink Creek Friends of Dragon Run, Inc. James River Association Linkage Mapper Project

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy Lynnhaven River NOW (LRNow) New River Land Trust

Nirvana Ridge Wildlife Refuge

Northern Virginia Conservation Trust Potomac Conservancy

Rewilding Institute Rockbridge Conservation Route 5 Corridor Coalition

Shenandoah National Park Trust Shenandoah Valley Conservancy Virginia Conservation Network Wild Things Media

Wild Virginia Wildlands Network

Wildlife Rescue League

Winchester-area Interfaith Stewards of the Earth (WISE)

Contacts:

Misty Boos

U.S. Conservation Policy Manager, Wildlands Network
434-906-9861
misty@wildlandsnetwork.org

Connor Ransom
Conservation Associate, Environment Virginia 301-502-9089, cransom@environmentvirginia.org

Trapper Fowler
Habitat Connectivity Program Director, Wild Virginia 434-971-1553, trapper@wildvirginia.org