Keep Oregon’s Wildlife Moving

The 2025 Oregon State Legislature is underway as of January 21 and will run for 160-days until June 29. 

In the 2025 legislative session, there are three exciting, interrelated wildlife crossing initiatives that need support from Oregonians like you. Now is the crucial time to encourage legislators’ support for key funding to aid the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) in their work to build wildlife crossings, conserve habitat connectivity and keep Oregon’s wildlife moving. We ask Oregon legislators to support: 

• The Joint Committee on Transportation Co-Chairs’ Transportation ReInvestment Package (TRIP) proposal for at least $12.5 million per biennium ($6.25 million per year) dedicated to implementation of Oregon’s wildlife-vehicle collision reduction program. This funding is projected to enable completion of an additional 20 priority wildlife crossings projects over the next 30 years [ODOT Transportation Funding Needs, pg. 13].

• An additional $3 million per biennium is also requested for important wildlife corridor work performed by ODFW to complement and increase effectiveness of ODOT’s roadway projects.

VICTORY UPDATE (5/1/2025): HB 2978 was passed by the Legislature with strong bipartisan support and signed into law by Governor Kotek on May 8th. 

• HB 2978, introduced by Representative Helm, would improve Oregon’s existing connectivity law by requiring:

  • The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) to update its wildlife guidance materials and crossing design standards to encourage the incorporation of wildlife-friendly infrastructure into our roadways;

  • A mutual agreement between ODOT & ODFW to spur collaboration and resource sharing amongst agencies, Tribes, NGOs, academic institutions & other community partners statewide;

  • Creation of a training program designed to educate ODOT staff and other stakeholders on the efficacy of transportation solutions for improving wildlife and human safety; and,

  • ODOT to consult with ODFW to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to wildlife connectivity from the construction, improvement, operation and maintenance of transportation infrastructure throughout this state.

These initatives have all been championed by long-time wildlife advocate Rep. Ken Helm and will build upon unanimously supported wildlife and motorist safe passage legislation and funding from previous years and will further improve outcomes to Oregon's current wildlife corridor and crossings laws. These measures are attracting broad-based, bipartisan support not only from Oregon legislators co-sponsoring the legislation, but from a whole host of organizations representing environmental and conservation groups, hunting and angling advocates, outfitters and many more. 

Please contact your elected officials today to ask them to support key annual funding measures to keep Oregon’s wildlife moving and improve motorist safety on our state roadways!