is the corridors group of the U.S. Northern Rockies,
working to maintain vital wildlife connections.

Our nation’s forebears did a fantastic job of setting aside national parks, wilderness areas, roadless areas, and national wildlife refuges, anticipating a need for places open and free. But from a wild animal’s perspective, these lands are becoming islands, core pieces of unique habitat adrift in a sea of manmade obstructions – developments, highway systems, impenetrable fencing. And in the quest for finding mates, forage and shelter, any obstacle in the path between core habitats can threaten the survival of bears, wolves, elk, pronghorn, moose, wolverine, lynx and bighorn sheep.

Wildlife corridors are the lifeline in this potentially bleak scenario, the connections between fragmented habitats that allow wildlife to migrate and maintain genetic diversity. A corridor can be large, undeveloped lands for migrating elk herds, or a narrow highway overpass, linking grizzly bear habitat on two sides of an interstate highway. By opening a tightly wired fence line that would stop pronghorn dead in their migratory track, a herd may return to a distant spring breeding ground. By restricting motorized vehicle operation in normally quiet, high alpine terrain, favored by wolverines in late winter, the shy animals have a chance to breed and birth the next generation.

Our Corridors of Life program recently identified critical wildlife corridors in the Northern Rockies to help guide landowners, state and federal agencies and others in their conservation endeavors. Go to the Corridors of Life link for more information on our policy work (including the Priority Linkage Assessment), and our on-the-ground conservation projects (such as making cattle fences wildlife-friendly).

Our Safe Passages program has conducted a similar analysis that identifies the intersection between human highways and wildlife corridors. This study will help inform long-term state transportation planning. Go to the Safe Passages link for more information on our policy work (including the Safe Passages Hotspot Analysis), and our on-the-ground conservation projects (such as placing wildlife warning signs on highways).

Our Community Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Services (computer modeling, analysis and mapping) shares American Wildlands geological information at below-market cost, or on a pro-bono basis, creating a network of information and services that supports conservation activities throughout the Northern Rockies region. Visit our Map Gallery for examples of our work. We have completed projects for 85 partners, including Defenders of Wildlife, The Wilderness Society, The Trust for Public Lands, World Wildlife Fund, Audubon Society, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and many more.

Please enjoy exploring the corridors of our website. More human connections will lead to healthy habitat connections.