Making Way for Wildlife
What is a Wildlife Corridor?
Wildlife Corridors are stretches of protected habitat that allow wildlife to move safely between large areas of protected land. They can be as small as a road crossing or as large as hundreds of acres. Having safe places for wildlife to move allows populations to migrate for food and breeding, and helps keep wildlife populations genetically diverse. Prior to development, wildlife had large ranges, but now those key habitats are scattered and fragmented. Corridors are a primary tool in combatting habitat fragmentation, which is one of the biggest threats to wildlife worldwide.
In the Shenandoah Valley our wildlife corridors are used by everything from skunks and possums to black bears and bobcats moving between Shenandoah National Park and the George Washington National Forest. Having safe crossings for them keeps wildlife from being hit by cars and from winding up in people’s backyards. Ultimately, wildlife corridors keep people, livestock, pets, and wildlife safer.
Safe Crossings in the North and the South
VCC has two major areas for wildlife corridors: in the north valley in Page an Warren counties and in the Southern Valley in Rockbridge and Botetourt Counties. In both locations, the goal is to have safe corridors between the Blue Ridge mountains and the Allegheny Mountains. Our Norther corridor, the Overall Corridor, is nestled between Page and Warren counties right along the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. It provides wildlife a safe place to travel between the National Park and the Protected Forests on Massanutten Mountain. VCC is looking to grow this corridor, as it also protects important areas in the floodplain of the South Fork.
Our Southern project is centered on three I-81 crossings; Buffalo Creek, Cedar Creek, and Purgatory Creek. The goal is not only to connect the eastern and western sections of the George Washington National Forest, but to connect Natural Bridge State Park and the Short Hills Wildlife Management area as well. If you own land within this area and want to learn more about what you can do to help the Wildlife Corridor project, please email easements@valleyconservation.org
Want to Learn More?
Check out this interactive Story Map made by VCC Staff Member Lily Bose that goes in depth about our efforts to create wildlife corridors in Rockbridge and Botetourt Counties.
