Speak up for wildlife
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A massive Highway 401 expansion threatens to create an impenetrable barrier for wildlife moving through the Frontenac Arch, a vital wildlife corridor and globally recognized natural treasure.
Right now, the Ontario government is deciding its future, and we need your voice to protect it. Current Ontario Ministry of Transportation planning studies are defining Highway 401’s footprint for the next 75 years, including an eventual eight lanes. For wildlife, eight lanes of relentless traffic mean isolation and a severe disruption of their natural movements. This expansion is a prime opportunity to cost-effectively integrate crucial wildlife crossings, making roads safer for both animals and drivers. Missing this chance will have devastating, long-lasting consequences for this irreplaceable region's biodiversity. The A2A Collaborative is actively advocating for wildlife passage, backed by our Right to Roam Report. Now, we need your voice to amplify our impact. Most recently, A2A, along with local partners and concerned residents, submitted comments on the study covering the Mallorytown to Brockville section of Highway 401. We’re now preparing for the next phase of planning—covering the stretch from Gananoque to Mallorytown—which is expected to open soon. This is a particularly critical area where we’ve recommended the construction of three wildlife overpasses to support safe passage for species such as fishers, red foxes, and black bears. Sign up for our newsletter to get our action alerts and make your voice heard, and see how you can get involved with us this summer. The decisions made today will shape the landscape for the next 75 years. Let’s make sure the Frontenac Arch remains a bridge — not a barrier — for wildlife. |
More information:
Highway 401 Planning Study - Mallorytown to Brockville Highway 401 Planning Study - Gananoque to Mallorytown (opening soon) Interested in volunteering for us this summer? Visit our volunteer page to see how you can help raise awareness and contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions. |
The right to roam:
A STRATEGY TO RECONNECT A CONTINENTAL WILDLIFE PATHWAY IN THE FRONTENAC ARCH
The Right to Roam report is the culmination of over a decade of research, drawing from both existing data and our own field studies on Highway 401, Thousand Islands Parkway, and Leeds County Road 2 in the Thousand Islands–Frontenac Arch region. These roads, which run parallel to the St. Lawrence River, severely hinder wildlife movement, creating barriers that disrupt natural migration patterns and pose substantial risks to animal populations—including alarming rates of wildlife mortality.
The Thousand Islands–Frontenac Arch region is a critical wildlife corridor, linking Canada’s boreal forest with the Appalachian forests of the United States. Ensuring safe passage for animals across these dangerous roads is vital to maintaining healthy wildlife populations throughout eastern North America.
Right to Roam addresses these critical issues, offering a bold strategy to restore connectivity, reduce wildlife mortality and improve driver safety in this critical continental wildlife pathway.
What to Expect:
- Understand the impacts of roads on wildlife and connectivity
- In-depth analysis of priority wildlife pathways in the A2A region
- Highlights from previous road ecology studies
- Case studies of successful mitigation measures for reducing roadkill and improving connectivity
- Strategic recommendations for mitigation measures, including wildlife crossings
