Caltrans OKs Cougar Bridge – NPS Campaigns Against Rat Poison
Written by 991KBU on May 3, 2018
Caltrans has approved early plans for that $60-million wildlife freeway crossing … above the 1-0-1 Freeway in Agoura Hills.
And the National Wildlife Federation has now raised about 3 point 7 million dollars in contributions for the bridge … which would connect wildlife habitat in the Santa Monica Mountains to the large wildernesses the north.
The bridge is viewed as essential by researchers studying the mountain lions in the hills above Malibu … which are an isolated group that is inbreeding and faces extinction.
Caltrans says the environment will impact report is complete and allows engineers to move into the final design and engineering phase.
Caltrans engineers say the bridge should not only cover the 101 freeway at Liberty Canyon Road … but should extend south to span over Agoura Road … to the south.
Construction is slated to begin in late 2020.
Caltrans is not spending any transportation money on the bridge … but other government sources like park acquisition money will be used … along with $10 million in anticipated donations.
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The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area rangers are starting a public relations campaign to convince people not to use rat poison to kill pests.
The federal agency has started a campaign called “Break The Poison Chain” to convince people not to use poisons that work their way up the food chain.
The parks department is asking Californians to sign a pledge to stop using the poisons.
Rat poison cannot be sold in Malibu … but it is readily available at stores all across the state.
