The case that really brought wildlife collisions into my awareness was a 17 year old girl who struck a deer on her way home from work. The deer came in through her windshield striking her in the head. She wasn’t drunk, wasn’t high, wasn’t distracted. When EMS arrived, she was unconscious and required intubation. She was brought to the trauma center where I work and we quickly got her into the CT scanner. The neurosurgeons saw her but despite the best care, her brain injury progressed to brain death, the cessation of all levels of brain function including the most basic reflex to breath. Ultimately, her family decided to make her an organ donor and she donated two kidneys, a liver and her pancreas. Most patients who strike animals and end up in the hospital strike deer. These patients can suffer a variety of injuries in addition to head injuries: facial fractures, rib fractures, collapsed lungs, injuries to the spleen, liver or kidney, and complex injuries to the arms and legs. A third of these patients require an ICU stay and 25% are too injured to return home after their hospitalization and require time to recover in a rehab or nursing facility. What really struck me about this case was standing in the CT scanner listening to nurses and techs talk about how dangerous the area she collided with the deer was for wildlife collisions. There is significant data about the number of deer strikes and a lot of really good work has used data from different databases to approximate the number of dollars cost, number of days lost, number of deer dead. But what I also notice as I do daily rounds is tha for every patient in the hospital for deer strikes there’s one that swerved to miss a deer and drove of the road into a tree or an embankment. These were patients who didn’t hit the deer, didn’t leave a carcass and are not captured as animal collisions in our database of injured patients. I believe wildlife corridors are important to create safe passages for wildlife in high risk areas to keep people and animals safe, and believe the cost of this infrastructure is worth it in terms of lives and functional life saved.

Comment on HB 597 - Simonds - Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund. Virginia consistently ranks among the top 10 worst states for wildlife vehicle conflicts. Our roadways cut directly through wildlife habitat corridors, and this interaction harms vulnerable species and costs Virginia citizens millions in vehicle damages, injuries, and fatalities each year. Wildlife crossings and fencing are proven to reduce vehicle conflicts by up to 90%, and the benefits are immediate. The placement of these structures matter, but VDOT and DWR are already at work on a robust study to identify the priority locations for reducing conflicts. The cost of a crossing structure is typically repaid many times over during the structure’s lifespan, especially in the case of wildlife underpasses (e.g., box culverts) which suit the needs of Virginia's species and cost significantly less than the large overpasses seen in the western U.S. and Canada. The proposed Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund requires no monetary contributions from the state, is supported solely by voluntary citizen donations, and would help position Virginia to be more competitive for federal funding for wildlife crossings. Virginia citizens are concerned about the issue of wildlife vehicle collisions and want a constructive way to support solutions. The Grant Fund offers a straightforward, practical mechanism to do so. Thank you for reading.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is pleased to support HB 597, which will help Virginia reduce wildlife‑vehicle collisions and strengthen the Commonwealth’s leadership in habitat connectivity by establishing a Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund. This bill offers a practical, budget‑neutral approach to advancing projects prioritized in the state’s Wildlife Corridor Action Plan (WCAP). It will improve driver safety, safeguard Virginia’s natural heritage, and bolster the resilience of the Commonwealth’s transportation network. Virginia ranks among the top ten states nationwide for wildlife‑vehicle collision risk, experiencing more than 60,000 deer‑related crashes annually. Each of these accidents carries an average cost of $41,000, borne by both individuals and the Commonwealth. The good news is that effective, proven solutions already exist. For example, on I‑64 near Waynesboro, fencing and underpasses cut wildlife‑related crashes by 96%, paying for themselves in under two years. These results demonstrate that Virginia has effective, evidence‑based tools that can reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and simply needs the means to put them into wider practice. Because many of the most effective wildlife crossings involve improvements to bridges and underpasses within stream corridors, they can also help to make Virginia’s transportation infrastructure more resilient to flood risk. Hurricane Helene damaged 63 culverts and 26 bridges in Virginia at a cost to the taxpayer of $132 million, demonstrating that many outdated structures can no longer withstand today’s increasingly strong storms. By establishing a Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund, supported by voluntary contributions, Virginia can proactively enhance its infrastructure to deliver multiple, long‑term benefits while opening the door to federal and private funding partnerships that would otherwise remain out of reach. We recognize that Members are cautious about new commitments of State funds, so this legislation does not request any appropriation. Instead, the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund would be seeded by two reliable, established donation‑based mechanisms: a Department of Motor Vehicles contribution system that has historically generated $600,000–$900,000 annually and an income‑tax donation option that provides an additional $20,000–$120,000 each year. The 2027 WCAP update will identify corridor and crossing priorities, and this funding will help Virginia develop competitive federal proposals and attract private philanthropic support for implementation, just as WCAP‑aligned work supported the state’s successful 2023 Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program grant. The creation of a Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund will sustain Virginia’s leadership in habitat connectivity by supporting state agency priorities while motivating local governments and community partners to advance projects across the Commonwealth. It offers a practical path from planning to implementation, delivering safer roads and lasting community benefits. We respectfully urge you to vote “yes” on HB 597.

I am a professor at UVA and conducted independent and in-depth analysis last year. With data received from our policy department and the VA wildlife center we were able to identify locations where road kill tremendously increased and continue to occurs. We were shocked about these data and considering that only 3% of vertebrates are wild (everything else are us, pets, and our food) I (and many of my students) believe that it is our responsibility to protect wildlife wherever we can. This bill will allow to do the right thing and to protect ourselves as well.

James River Association Support HB597. -More projects are needed across the Commonwealth to address habitat fragmentation for fish and mussel species, by improving aquatic connectivity of our ecosystems and stream networks. Unfortunately, road-stream crossings can create barriers for aquatic life movement when not specifically designed to fully allow for natural channel flow. Well-designed crossings can support wildlife corridors for fish as well as terrestrial animals, such as deer, by maintaining streambank width under roadways, while also increasing resilience to flood conditions. -HB 597 creates a mechanism to help fund these critical projects in the future by establishing a dedicated fund at no cost to the Commonwealth and creating the infrastructure to accept voluntary donations and federal wildlife crossing grants.

Wild Virginia fully expresses support for HB 597 that would create the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund to support and help fund project priorities outlined in the existing Wildlife Corridor Action Plan. I am the Habitat Connectivity Director for Wild Virginia and also a Certified Wildlife Biologist® through The Wildlife Society. HB 597 does not require or rely on state funds through its designed funding mechanism of voluntary contributions via income tax return filings, electronic DMV transactions, and private donations. HB 597 is a fiscally responsible and sustainable funding source for life saving road infrastructure projects, protecting our motorists and wildlife. HB 597 offers accountability and oversight of funds raised through biennial reporting requirements showing project progress, funding use, and outcomes. For Virginians, an average deer collision will cost approximately $41,000, with elk collisions costing even more around $81,000. Wildlife crossings and corridor projects aim to mitigate these costs through allowing animals safe passage across or under our road systems. Sometimes the solution simply means the addition of wildlife fencing on either side of our existing road infrastructure like a box culvert or bridge. Wildlife fencing projects have excellent returns on their investments, for example an I-64 study by VDOT’s research division showed $2.35 million average savings for each site fenced over a 25-year service life. These returns are so quick to occur given the immediate, almost overnight, reduction of wildlife vehicle collisions after the fencing is installed. HB 597 will help fund more wildlife fencing projects across the state of Virginia. Additional benefits from creating the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund include increasing resilience for communities across the state of Virginia. Many crossing infrastructure projects in Virginia will be through the upsizing of existing culverts to allow for both terrestrial animal movement and aquatic organism passage (fish). Larger culverts equate to more water flow capacity during storm events keeping flood waters off our roads and out of our homes. Wildlife crossing infrastructure projects coupled with wildlife corridor identification and protections also ensures Virginia’s outdoor recreation heritage stays alive and well for future generations to enjoy. This includes opportunities for hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing. If our wildlife cannot travel safely across or under our roads then recreational opportunities are lost to vehicle collisions and conflict with our wildlife.

HB 597 creates a practical, fiscally responsible funding mechanism to support wildlife corridors and crossing projects in Virginia. The bill allows Virginians to make voluntary contributions through existing systems via DMV transactions and state tax returns, without relying on the Commonwealth’s general fund or any new tax burdens. This approach provides the opportunity for Virginians to voluntarily opt-in to support public safety, conservation, and infrastructure improvements. Importantly, the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund would allow Virginia to leverage outside funding. Even modest state or private contributions can serve as required match funding for federal programs such as the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, as well as grants from foundations and nonprofit partners. Having a dedicated fund in place makes Virginia more competitive for these opportunities and allows the state to act quickly when grant windows open. Other states have demonstrated that voluntary contribution mechanisms work. North Carolina raised approximately $2 million in private donations to support wildlife crossing projects, and Maryland raised over $30,000 within a few months of launching a DMV donation option. These examples show that the public is ready to participate when given a simple, transparent way to contribute to solutions that benefit both people and wildlife. By establishing the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund, HB 597 provides Virginia with a low-risk, high-leverage tool to translate planning into on-the-ground implementation. It creates a stable pathway for public-private partnership, reduces barriers to accessing federal dollars, and does so without drawing on general fund resources. This bill is a smart, forward-looking investment framework that positions Virginia to build wildlife crossings efficiently and responsibly.

Environment Virginia is a non-profit organization with thousands of members across Virginia. Protecting wildlife and improving habitat connectivity are top priorities for us and our members. We thank Delegate Simonds for introducing HB 597 and express our support for it. Wildlife habitat in Virginia is increasingly fragmented by roads and buildings. This makes it hard for animals to migrate and roam in search of food and mates. It also forces them to cross busy roads, leading to dangerous crashes. Virginia is in the top ten states for wildlife-vehicle collisions with over 60,000 deer collisions per year on average. It’s not just deer however; black bears, elk, and many smaller animals from opossums to salamanders are hit every year. Aquatic species are also impacted when roads and poorly designed culverts restrict the flow of rivers and streams, preventing aquatic wildlife from migrating and accessing the habitat they need. Wildlife-vehicle conflict, including direct collisions and other crashes such as when a car swerves to avoid hitting an animal, leads to many significant injuries and even deaths. In addition to the human cost, wildlife-vehicle conflict is estimated to cost Virginia about $533 million annually when considering things like property damage, medical costs, and clean-up from collisions. Wildlife crossings are a proven solution to this problem. They provide wildlife safe paths to cross under or over roads, preventing dangerous collisions and connecting habitat. When fencing was added around existing underpasses on I-64 west of Charlottesville, collisions were reduced over 96%. Avoiding the costs of these collisions also paid for the project within two years. Other studies have corroborated that wildlife crossings are cost-effective when properly sited, especially when wildlife connectivity planning is included early in infrastructure development. In order to protect Virginians and the incredible wildlife we live with, we need more wildlife crossings now. Virginia already has a Wildlife Corridor Action Plan (WCAP) that was published in 2023. In 2025, $450,000 was allocated to a wildlife crossing project in Loudoun County, the first state money put towards implementing the WCAP. Having a good plan was an important first step, but we need a fund to actually get wildlife crossings built. That’s where this bill comes in. Having a fund in place will allow money to be allocated towards building crossings, as well as research and maintenance. This bill does not have a fiscal impact and instead includes voluntary donation options through tax returns and DMV transactions to add money to the fund. Having a fund in place will also allow private donations, something which has had a lot of success in North Carolina for funding wildlife crossings, and also help Virginia apply for grants from NGOs and the federal government, many of which require matching funds that the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund could provide. Having a fund in place is essential to implementing the WCAP. Wildlife crossings are a common sense way to improve habitat connectivity and protect people on the road. We need more wildlife crossings now, and HB 597 will make that happen. Please vote YES on HB 597 to create the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund.