Cindy Heineman
"Pathways for Wildlife"
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| (Photos by Patrick Fraser) |
While wildlife protection groups are working to open pathways for animals to travel during this critical time of climate change, our government is threatening to continue to build our southern border wall that cuts off migratory paths important to the survival of many species including pronghorn, bison, and deer. Laws created after 9/11 allow the wall to be built without consultation to conservation groups that may be able to mitigate some of the damage by recommending better solutions.
Conservationists warn that completing the wall will be devastating to many species in this delicate mix of tropical and temperate zones. Some species live in this unique ecosystem that don’t exist anywhere else in the United States. Animals are affected not only by the wall itself, but also by many other practices such as habitat destruction, militaristic activities, and bright lights.
There is a documented herd of bison that travels back and forth between Mexico and the US visiting special grasses at a US ranch, and a watering hole at a Mexican ranch every day. What will happen to this and other herds when the wall gets built across the entire southern border?