Wild Earth Society Incorporated

Programs

1. Western Wildway: In collaboration with our partners and volunteers, we removed and modified wire from 12.3 miles of prioritized fence lines within the winter range of the Paunsaugunt mule deer herd in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and surveyed approximately 30 miles of fence on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. The surveys assess which fences are acting as barriers to wildlife movement, specifically for the pronghorn that inhabit the valley. In partnership with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Sageland Collaborative, we developed guidelines for using DWR's fence mapping app that helps identify and prioritize fences for improvement across the state. We captured a mountain lion crossing through one of the large border wall openings that were opened as a result of the 2023 border wall settlement. We published new research confirming a devastating truth: the U.S.-Mexico border wall is reducing wildlife movement by 86%. Our work was featured in "Nature Divided," a documentary following our Borderlands Program Coordinator, Myles Traphagen, as he documents both the damage and the growing promise of reconnecting cross-border habitat. We led the legislative…

   $985,755 spent$12,490 earned by the program
   31% of program spending

2. Eastern Wildway: Two more (of five total) bridges on I-40 through the Pigeon River Gorge were replaced and completed with wildlife friendly infrastructure based on Wildlands Network and NPCA's recommendations. We concluded our fourth field season monitoring wildlife use of small road underpasses at Gorges State Park, as well as evaluating the effect of fencing on crossing structure use. We're now compiling available location data in the southern Appalachian mountain region for spotted skunk, eastern box turtle, and timber rattlesnake to create maps that can inform sites where NC State Parks and Blue Ridge Parkway can help conserve and connect three of our species of conservation concern. We also participated in the first South Carolina Wildlife Connectivity Coalition meeting along with representatives from SCDOT, SC NGO's, Clemson University, and several local government agencies to begin developing a strategy for wildlife crossing implementation in SC. We complete the first full year of roadkill data collection on US 64 in the red wolf recovery area on July 31 of this year.

   $707,985 spent
   23% of program spending

3. Pacific Wildway: With the help of local partners, we helped California identify six new priority sites for crossings along U.S. 395 in the Northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, to help mule deer, bears, and other species safely cross this deadly road. We cosponsored the Room to Roam Act (AB 1889), requiring local governments to incorporate wildlife connectivity into general plans. We organized a policy collaborative through California Wildlife Reconnected that launched a campaign to address existing gaps to integrating wildlife crossings in transportation planning and implementation. Our trail campaign realigned its 500-mile trail proposal to focus on maintaining existing routes and limiting new routes to those closer to communities rather than building new trails. We established the Baja Connectivity coalition to share data and strategize a reform response to proposed and ongoing border construction's impacts to wildlife. We organized and drafted over $5 million in successful State Route 62 (Riverside County) WCB grants for wildlife crossing planning and design across priority corridors.

   $516,891 spent$21,753 earned by the program
   17% of program spending

4. In Virginia, we successfully advocated for a $450,000 appropriation to support high priority wildlife crossing projects identified within the state's Wildlife Corridor Action Plan. In Maryland, we were successful in supporting the passage of Maryland's Wildlife Connectivity and Crossings Act to prioritize habitat connectivity in development projects and create a coalition to manage the process. We secured funding to support new jaguar corridors between Arizona, New Mexico, and Sonora, Mexico including promoting the need for new wildlife crossings over Mexico's Highway 2 to key decision makers. As part of the NOSSA coalition we coordinated a report revealing that Mexico's budget for natural protected areas proposed for 2025 hit an 18-year low. The report garnered national and international attention with over 80 articles and headlines, placing this issue on the public agenda and in the spotlight for stakeholders and legislators.

   $921,006 spentof which $2,700 as grants$24,852 earned by the program
   29% of program spending

The 4 programs described on its FY2025 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $3,131,637.