Wildlife Corridors
A connected network of protected open space is important for the biological diversity of local populations of plants and animals. Many animals move from different habitats depending on life cycles, seasons or change in habitat. As the landscape continues to be fragmented from developments these connections are cut off making the plants and animals that rely on open space connections vulnerable. A local example is the Blanding's turtle; this timid creature uses a variety of habitat including marshes, creeks, wet prairies, sloughs, fens along with pond and lake edges. A female turtle will often travel from a wetland to a sandy grassland or forest edge to lay her eggs, this often requires crossing roads. Alteration of habitats including draining, filling or even excavating wetlands along with construction of roads and homes on sandy uplands removes the habitat necessary for this species and others. As habitats are fragmented or outright destroyed the plants and animals that depend on natural areas will be gone forever. These natural areas also benefit us by having places to recreate, cleaning our water and improving our quality of life.
