Habitat fragmentation can lead to extinction or extirpation if a population's gene pool is restricted enough. For many years ecologists and conservationists have documented the adverse relationship between roads and wildlife identify four ways that roads and traffic detrimentally affect wildlife populations: (1) they decrease habitat amount and quality, (2) they increase mortality due to wildlife-vehicle collisions (road kill), (3) they prevent access to resources on the other side of the road, and (4) they subdivide wildlife populations into smaller and more vulnerable sub-populations (fragmentation). Scientists estimate that the system of roads in the United States affects the ecology of at least one-fifth of the land area of the country. Of these, roads have the most widespread and detrimental effects. Habitat fragmentation occurs when human-made barriers such as roads, railroads, canals, electric power lines, and pipelines penetrate and divide wildlife habitat. Roads and habitat fragmentation Camel crossing in Kuwait Similar structures can be used for domesticated animals, such as cattle creeps. They also assist in avoiding collisions between vehicles and animals, which in addition to killing or injuring wildlife may cause injury to humans and property damage. Wildlife crossings are a practice in habitat conservation, allowing connections or reconnections between habitats, combating habitat fragmentation. Wildlife crossings may include underpass tunnels or wildlife tunnels, viaducts, and overpasses or green bridges (mainly for large or herd-type animals) amphibian tunnels fish ladders canopy bridges (especially for monkeys and squirrels) tunnels and culverts (for small mammals such as otters, hedgehogs, and badgers) and green roofs (for butterflies and birds). Wildlife crossings are structures that allow animals to cross human-made barriers safely. Drone video of Kolu wildlife overpass in Estonia (September 2021) There are channeling fences on either side of the crossing. Florida State Route 46 was elevated over this underpass. Structures enabling wildlife to safely cross human-made barriers
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