Kentucky built
an inspiring piece of infrastructure: a bridge designed to protect
endangered species such as the gray bat!
Apparently, gray bats cuddle up in the expanded spaces
and cracks that classic parallel box bridges develop
with age, seeking shelter from wind, rain, and
predators. Kentucky's new bridge design simply includes
these spaces from the get go, welcoming bats to use
them! The amazing bridge is the result of collaboration
between wildlife groups and scientists with local
engineers, and is the first of its kind in the
state.
This is
wonderful, because these little critters need all the
protection they can get. Like a growing
number of species in the United States, gray bats suffer
from climate-change and deforestation-induced habitat
loss, habitat degradation, the commercialization of wild
spaces like caves, and general human interference. The
gray bat has been on the endangered species list
for nearly 50
years, and little progress has been
made. Simple changes to bridges like this
could improve bat populations dramatically! Kentucky has given us the
blueprint to use, and states like Tennessee should
follow suit.
Let's
ask that the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
collaborate with engineers, architects, and regional
planners to build bridges with bat-friendly
infrastructure! Sign to save gray bats from
extinction!
