Wildlife corridors are exactly that. They are the paths that animals use on a regular basis to get from one habitat location to another. The animals don’t make the corridors their permanent homes; they pass through them to get to a habitat area that meets at least their basic needs of food, water, and shelter. Some corridors may be seasonal as animals move from summer to winter habitats and then back when food or shelter runs low, or they move to areas for mating and/or egg laying. Some animals such as bear, bobcat and coyote require large habitat areas and regularly move through connecting corridors on a regular basis.
We often associate wildlife corridors with mammals but fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and even insects use corridors as part of their life cycle. In the spring turtles, frogs, toads, and salamanders all move from woodlands to wetlands and/or vernal pools and after mating and laying eggs they then disperse returning along their different corridors. These slow-moving creatures are at increased risk of death when a road (a human corridor) bisects their required path of travel. Turtles have the added issues of low nestling survival rates and a late age for reproductive maturity.
Streams and rivers serve as corridors for beavers, minks, otters as well as some species of fish. These animals can easily move up and down these corridors, building new homes as conditions change; but some bridges and dams can make passage difficult if not impossible for these creatures, particularly fish. The Atlantic Salmon in the Connecticut River has essentially been extirpated from its native habitat despite efforts to help it bypass the dams that have kept it from original spawning grounds. In the northeast, dam removal and restoration efforts continue on smaller streams and rivers, restoring natural flow and improving the habitat and biodiversity along beds and banks.
Birds also use corridors called flyways. Different species use different flyways, but the Connecticut River Valley is often used by waterfowl such as Canada geese and many species of ducks. Some mountains in the area are excellent places to spot hawks on their seasonal migrations as they use the air thermals around the mountains to reduce energy needs and assist them in their journeys. Many species of songbirds travel thousands of miles each year to get to and from their breeding areas. These birds add their songs and flashes of color to the spring and summer landscape. Bats also use corridors to get to caves where they hibernate during the cold months of the year.
Roads and bridges, subdivisions, building construction, fencing, farming, dams, and other land uses that alter the landscape can all cause serious disruption to wildlife. Corridors that are compromised and cannot be traversed easily may stress animals, result in reduced life spans, lower reproduction rates, or even loss of a species.
Ensuring safe wildlife corridors as gateways between suitably large parcels of undeveloped habitats is one way to help balance human and wildlife needs in the rural landscape. The presence of, and or need for wildlife corridors is one of several important factors used by the Cornish Conservation Commission when assessing support for new land conservation projects in Cornish.