A wildlife underpass in Maine has eliminated turtle deaths on a busy road since 2021, aiding endangered Blanding’s turtles and other species.

A wildlife underpass beneath State Route 236 in Eliot, Maine, has drastically reduced turtle deaths since opening in 2021, with no Blanding’s turtles killed on the road since. The 8-foot-wide culvert, part of a $400,000 project funded by the Maine DOT, connects wetlands and is used by multiple species, including snapping turtles and salamanders. Camera traps have recorded over 270 wildlife sightings. The tunnel supports conservation efforts for the endangered Blanding’s turtle, which faces threats from habitat loss and slow reproduction. Local plans now emphasize habitat protection and trail development.