Squirrel bridge


A squirrel bridge is a construction which enables small animals, especially squirrels and martens, to safely cross busy roadways. The bridges are a measure for wildlife management and natural habitat preservation, and serve the functions of both animal welfare and accident prevention. The Nutty Narrows Bridge in Longview, Washington, built in 1963, is regarded as the first of its kind.
Costs to construct squirrel bridges vary significantly, depending on construction. Simple rope bridge constructions, such as those in Brecht, Belgium, have cost only about 250 euros, while the bridge built in The Hague in 2013 took half a year to construct and cost 150,000-200,000 euros.

List of squirrel bridges

The following bridges protect the red squirrel, common in Europe, or the North American gray squirrel.
ImageCountryPlaceYearType/NumberNotes
United StatesArizona, Mount Graham201041 rope bridgesProtects the Mount Graham Red Squirrel
United StatesNutty Narrows Bridge, Longview, Washington1963Suspension bridge
BelgiumBrussels, Ring 02013Ropes/nets and steel pipe attached to a gantry
BelgiumBrecht, Belgium, Andrélaan2013Two rope bridges
FranceLa Rochelle, Parc Franck-Delmas/Parc d'Orbigny2012Rope bridge„Écureuilloduc“
NetherlandsRijksweg 12, Kilometer 73,902012
NetherlandsThe Hague, Benoordenhoutseweg2012A camera monitoring the bridge has shown that squirrels largely ignore the bridge.
NetherlandsAmsterdam, Europaboulevard in Amstelpark2011/2012Parallel ropes connected to netting.
NetherlandsRoermond, Heinsbergerweg2013
GermanyBerlin-Friedrichshagen, Müggelseedamm2014Rope bridge
GermanyVlotho, Burgstraße2012Rope bridge
United KingdomScotland, Aberdeen2008
United KingdomEngland, near Formby2004Rope bridge

Similar concepts for other species