As the state struggles to balance its budget, a bill involving costly animal crossings to help deer and other wildlife safely navigate busy roadways is sparking debate.

Manmade overpasses and underpasses built to prevent car accidents and reduce roadkill can be found across the country, often in western states with large migrating mammal populations, such as elk and grizzly bears.

Proponents of these passageways argue they protect both wildlife and people. Not only do they assist animalsin safely crossing the street, but they also reduce curb collisions and potentially save lives.

It’s a concept Delegate Sheila Ruth wants to mobilize in Maryland.

“It’s a change in the way we look at roads and a change in the way we look at infrastructure,” she says.

Arguing Maryland sees 33,000 deer-related car accidents every year, Ruth has introduced House Bill 731, which would create a collation dedicated to researching a data-driven plan for placing the crossing. “Some of these solutions can be expensive and complicated, but some of them can be as simple as adding exclusionary fencing to already existing underpasses,” she said.

Initially, the study was planned to be backed by a nearly $400,000 grant from the federal government, but that funding has since been frozen. “We don’t know the status of that yet,” Ruth said.

If the grant is permanently canceled, Ruth acknowledges the project would take longer to develop. For now, her bill only funds the research, costing approximately $100,000 per year, which she hopes to supplement with voluntary donations sourced from a question that would appear on your vehicle registration renewal form.

“You can check a box to say, ‘I want to donate to help protect drivers and wildlife in the state,’” Ruth explained, “We’ve done this for other efforts before and we believe that would fund most or all of the work of the collation.”

However, a state analyst found once construction begins, the cost could reach $3 million annually.

“Whether it’s $100,000 on a study or spending millions to actually build these bridges or underpasses or overpasses, this is absolutely a questionable use of taxpayer money,” says taxpayer advocate David Williams. Williams argues that at a time when state leaders are desperately looking to cut spending, they should pump the breaks on this bill. “This is not a necessity. This is not a priority for the state. Right now, when the state is $3 billion in the hole, they need to prioritize spending on things that the state needs, not just what the state wants,” he says

Delegate Ryan Nawrocki echoes Williams’ concerns, adding there are cheaper ways to avoid wildlife collisions. “Have Sunday hunting in Baltimore County. It would be one more day per week. The hunting season is very limited already for deer,” he says, “It would also offer opportunities to people who can’t hunt during the week.”

Despite the pushback, the bill has support from the Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Department of Transportation and animal advocacy groups.

The Maryland Insurance Administration estimates that wildlife collisions cost insurers $200 million annually, which could lead to higher premiums for drivers.

In a 101 to 36 vote, the bill cruised through the house with an overwhelming majority. But will it cross over safely to the Senate? Only time will tell.

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