{{Short description|Construction for small animals to safely cross roads}} right|200px|Squirrel bridge in Vlotho (2012) A '''squirrel bridge''' is a construction (similar to a wildlife crossing) which enables small animals, especially squirrels and martens, to safely cross busy roadways. The bridges are a measure for wildlife management and natural habitat preservation, and serve the functions of both animal welfare and accident prevention. The Nutty Narrows Bridge in Longview, Washington, built in 1963, is regarded as the first of its kind. The city has since built eight other bridges for squirrels.<ref>{{cite news |last=Day |first=Hayley |date=March 4, 2021 |title=Disney uses Longview squirrel bridges to market new film 'Flora & Ulysses' |page=A1 |url=https://tdn.com/news/disney-uses-longview-squirrel-bridges-to-market-new-film-flora-ulysses/article_bfc30fd7-a9e4-5f0d-87c1-07e7835dc912.html |work=The Daily News |accessdate=January 31, 2022}}</ref><ref name="squirrelfest">{{Cite web |title=Squirrel Fest |url=https://lvsquirrelfest.com/ |access-date=2023-08-20 |language=en-US}}</ref>
Costs to construct squirrel bridges vary significantly, depending on construction. Simple rope bridge constructions, such as those in Brecht, Belgium, have cost only about 250 euros, while the bridge built in The Hague in 2013 took half a year to construct and cost 150,000–200,000 euros.
== List of squirrel bridges == The following bridges protect the red squirrel, common in Europe, or the North American gray squirrel (either of which may be hunted as an invasive species depending on the continent).
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Image !! Country !! Place !! Year !! Type/Number !! Notes |- |100x100px |United States |Olympia Way near 18th Avenue, Longview, Washington |1963 |Suspension bridge |"Nutty Narrows Bridge." |- | |United States |1318 Kessler Boulevard, Longview, Washington |2011 |Covered bridge |"Bruce Kamp Bridge."<ref name="Longview">{{cite web |title=Nutty Points of Attraction |url=https://www.mylongview.com/DocumentCenter/View/693/Squirrel-Bridge-Map-PDF |publisher=City of Longview |accessdate=February 15, 2022}}</ref> |- | |United States |Nichols Boulevard near Kentucky Boulevard, Longview, Washington |2012 |Cable-stayed bridge |"John R. Dick Bridge."<ref name="Longview"/> Modeled after the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge in Boston, Massachusetts.<ref name="squirrelfest" /> |- | |United States |Louisiana Street near 23rd Avenue, Longview, Washington |2014<ref>{{cite news |date=June 11, 2014 |title=Longview's fourth squirrel bridge to be installed June 21 |url=https://tdn.com/news/local/longview-s-fourth-squirrel-bridge-to-be-installed-june/article_0481df5c-f1d0-11e3-8eef-0019bb2963f4.html |work=The Daily News |url-access=subscription |accessdate=February 15, 2022}}</ref> |Covered bridge |"OBEC Bridge."<ref name="Longview"/> |- | |United States |Kessler Boulevard near 24th Avenue, Longview, Washington |2015 |Truss bridge |"Safety Awareness Bridge."<ref name="Longview"/> Designed and built by the Bits and Bots Robotics Club of R. A. Long High School and Mark Morris High School.<ref name="squirrelfest" /> |- | |United States |Kessler Boulevard near Washington Way, Longview, Washington | |Truss bridge |"R.D. Olson Mfg. Bridge." Modeled after the Lewis and Clark Bridge in Longview, Washington.<ref name="squirrelfest" /> |- | |United States |Kessler Boulevard near 20th Avenue, Longview, Washington | |Tied-arch bridge |"S & R Bridge."<ref name="squirrelfest" /> Modeled after the Fremont Bridge (Portland, Oregon). |- | |United States |Kessler Boulevard near 22nd Avenue, Longview, Washington | |Truss bridge |"PUD Bridge."<ref name="squirrelfest"/> |- | |Belgium |Brussels, Ring 0 |2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wegenenverkeer.be/home/item/plaatsing-boombrug-over-de-ring-om-brusselr0.html?category_id=14|title=''Plaatsing boombrug over de ring om Brussel (R0),'' July 10, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327204146/http://www.wegenenverkeer.be/home/item/plaatsing-boombrug-over-de-ring-om-brusselr0.html?category_id=14|archive-date=March 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zonienwoud.be/primeur-boombrug-in-zonienwoud/|title=Primeur: boombrug in Zoniënwoud|date=2 October 2013}}</ref> |Ropes/nets and steel pipe attached to a gantry | |- | |Belgium |Brecht, Belgium, Andrélaan |2013<ref>[http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/detail.aspx?articleid=DMF20131211_00883358 Neel Vermeiren: ''Bomen Andrélaan verbonden met touw. Brug helpt eekhoorns bij het oversteken'' December 12, 2013]</ref> |Two rope bridges | |- | |Belgium |Northeast of Antwerp Province, Belgium |2023<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20231218_96183905|title=''Scheepstouwen op grote hoogte helpen pluimstaarten veilig oversteken'' December 18, 2023}}</ref> |Ropes attached to trees at a height of approximately 10 meters. |16 bridges are installed in Schilde, Schoten, Wijnegem and Deurne. Select positions will be monitored by cameras |- | |France |La Rochelle, Parc Franck-Delmas/Parc d'Orbigny |2012<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sudouest.fr/2012/03/14/l-ecureuil-n-a-pas-le-vertige-658315-650.php|title=L'écureuil n'a pas le vertige|website=SudOuest.fr|date=14 March 2012|last1=Brosset|first1=Thomas}}</ref> |Rope bridge |„Écureuilloduc“ |- | |Netherlands |Rijksweg 12, between Ede and interchange Grijsoord |2016<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.naturetoday.com/intl/nl/nature-reports/message/?msg=24926|title=Eerste boommarter gebruikt faunaportaal boven A12|website=naturetoday.com|language=nl|date=7 February 2019}}</ref> |Two rope bridges | |- |100x100px |Netherlands |The Hague, Benoordenhoutseweg |2012<ref name="rtl">{{cite web|url=https://www.rtl.nl/nederland/artikel/2114491/den-haag-heeft-de-duurste-eekhoornbrug|title=Den Haag heeft de duurste eekhoornbrug|website=rtlnieuws.nl |date=24 January 2014|language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/21983953/__Eekhoorns_negeren_peperdure_brug__.html|title=Eekhoorns negeren peperdure brug|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307041532/https://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/21983953/__Eekhoorns_negeren_peperdure_brug__.html__Eekhoorns_negeren_peperdure_brug__.html |archive-date=7 March 2016 |url-status=dead|website=telegraaf.nl |date=18 October 2013|language=nl}}</ref> | |A camera monitoring the bridge suggested that squirrels largely ignored the bridge in a widely reported story in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nu.nl/dieren/4218978/haagse-eekhoornbrug-vorig-jaar-twee-keer-gebruikt.html|title=Haagse eekhoornbrug vorig jaar twee keer gebruikt |website=www.nu.nl|date=22 February 2016|language=nl}}</ref> As of 2022, however, the bridge is regularly used by both squirrels and martens.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.omroepwest.nl/nieuws/4528935/eekhoorns-en-boommarters-hebben-na-jaren-eindelijk-eekhoornbrug-gevonden|title=Eekhoorns en boommarters hebben na jaren eindelijk eekhoornbrug gevonden |website=www.omroepwest.nl|date=15 February 2022|language=nl}}</ref> |- |100x100px |Netherlands |Amsterdam, Europaboulevard in Amstelpark |2011/2012<ref name="rtl" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.studiokoning.nl/Foto_3/Eekhoornbrug.htm|title=Eekhoornbrug|website=www.studiokoning.nl}}</ref> |Parallel ropes connected to netting. | |- | |Netherlands |Roermond, Heinsbergerweg |2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roermond.nl/4/BenW/17-september-2013/09---Eekhoornbrug---170913A07/Eekhoornbrug/Collegebesluit-eekhoornbrug.pdf|title=Antrag im Gemeinderat, September 2013}}</ref> | | |- |100x100px | Germany |Berlin-Friedrichshagen, Müggelseedamm |2014<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berliner-kurier.de/kiez-stadt/rettungsseil-berlins-erste-eichhoernchen-bruecke,7169128,26498652.html|title=Rettungsseil: Berlins erste Eichhörnchen-Brücke|first=Holger|last=Schacht}}</ref> |Rope bridge | |- | | Germany | Vlotho, Burgstraße | 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mt-online.de/lokales/minden/7211796_Vlothos_erste_Eichhoernchenbruecke.html|title=Vlothos erste Eichhörnchenbrücke - Minden Aktuell|first=Mindener|last=Tageblatt}}</ref><ref>[http://piratenpartei-herford.de/?p=11 piratenpartei-herford.de, Dennis Deutschkämer: ''Piraten errichten Eichhörnchenbrücke'' (mit Webcam-Videos), mt-online.de October 29, 2012]</ref> | Rope bridge | |- | |United Kingdom |Scotland, Aberdeen |2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buildscotland.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=76638|title=Squirrel Bridge To Be Built Over New Aberdeen Bypass|website=www.buildscotland.co.uk}}</ref> | | |- | |United Kingdom |England, near Formby |2004<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/animals/newsid_3523000/3523805.stm|title=CBBC Newsround - ANIMALS - Rope bridge helps save squirrels|website=news.bbc.co.uk|date=March 2004}}</ref> |Rope bridge | |}
== Similar concepts for other species == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Image !! Country !! Place !! Year !! Type/Number !! Notes |- | |Australia |Victoria, near Benalla |2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wildlifeextra.com/do/ecco.py/view_item?listid=1&listcatid=316&listitemid=2912&live=0#cr|title=Archant - Inspiring Communities|website=www.wildlifeextra.com}}</ref> |Rope bridge |For sugar gliders and possums |- | |Australia |Victoria, Longwood | |Rope bridge |For sugar gliders and possums |- | |Kenya |Diani Beach |1997<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colobusconservation.org/index.php/news-archive/217-colobridges-for-primate-conservation|title=Colobridges for Primate Conservation|website=www.colobusconservation.org}}</ref> |about 200, rope ladder construction |"Colobridges", for colobus monkeys |}
==See also== * Bat bridge * Amphibian and reptile tunnel
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
== Further reading == * [http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/305/why_did_the_squirrel_cross_the_road ''Why did the squirrel cross the road?'' Science and technology news, University of Leeds, 2008] * [http://www.rsne.org.uk/sites/default/files/Signs%20and%20bridges.pdf Squirrel Bridges and Road Warning Signs] * [http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol14/iss2/art13/ Brendan D. Taylor, Ross L. Goldingay: ''Can Road-Crossing Structures Improve Population Viability of an Urban Gliding Mammal?'']
Category:Articles containing video clips Category:Bridges Category:Conservation projects Category:Natural resource management Category:Wildlife crossings