Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is nearly finished, but already small creatures are making it their home
In 2024, the nonprofit National Wildfire Federation began its plan to build a bridge over the 101 freeway in Agoura Hills to help mountain lions and other wildlife facing “genetic isolation” caused by the freeway. The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is expected to be finished this year, but already small creatures are making the bridge their home and greenery is taking over.
“For so much of the construction of this crossing it’s been about concrete and rebar and very industrial elements. But now we are getting to the soul of the project with the soil and native plants on the 101 structure,” said Beth Pratt, Regional Executive Director of the California Regional Center of the National Wildlife Federation.
“I get so emotional every time I am on the bridge as it seems like a miracle I am standing on a wildlife habitat over one of the world’s busiest freeways,” she said. “And although the crossing isn’t finished yet, the wildlife is already responding.”
“I have seen western fence lizards on the crossing—we even have a regular one I named Bob who lives at the top of the stairs and says hello each time we pass. I have seen four species of butterflies, and several species of birds—western bluebirds, western tanagers, black phoebes and more,” Pratt added. “Red-tailed hawks are usually flying overhead when we are onsite, and some turkey vultures buzzed us one day while we were on top. Two weeks in a row, an American kestrel flew over to say hello. Build it and they really will come. This is such a hopeful project for wildlife as it shows even a freeway is redeemable.”
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