Bears Take Center Stage During National Bear Awareness Week, May 18-24
The celebration, which runs from May 18-24, will be filled with educational courses, contests, giveaways, question and answer sessions, interactive booths, demonstrations, and more.
With nearly 4 million miles of roads in the continental United States, many species find their habitats shrinking fast, including the grizzly bear. Habitat destruction and fragmentation in valley bottoms and elsewhere is particularly harmful to grizzlies because they use these as "corridors" to travel from one area to another.
"Bears need a lot of room to roam," said Defenders’ Transportation Associate, Trisha White. "Roads become deadly obstacles when they cut through diminishing bear habitat. To protect these truly magnificent species, we must stop building roads in bear country and find ways to reestablish corridors that have been severed by highways."
Defenders is working with state and local authorities to plan for the growth of communities to avoid or minimize the harm from future roads on wildlife and habitat. People can learn more about Defenders’ Habitat & Highways Campaign. As part of this campaign, Defenders partnered with the Surface Transportation Report to publish a report titled Second Nature: Improving Transportation Without Putting Nature Second. The report highlights innovative programs that seek to improve transportation while protecting biodiversity.
Defenders of Wildlife is one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and habitat, and was named as one of America's Top 100 Charities by Worth magazine. With more than 430,000 members and supporters, Defenders is an effective voice for wildlife and habitat. To learn more about Defenders of Wildlife, please visit www.defenders.org.
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Contact(s):
Brad DeVries, (202) 772-0237Yvonne Borresen, (202) 682-9400
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