Two wildlife crossings are planned to span State Route 62 in California’s Mojave Desert to reconnect habitats split by the highway between Joshua Tree National Park and the Sand to Snow National Monument. The infrastructure projects aim to help species like bighorn sheep, deer, black bears, and mountain lions move safely between protected areas while reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions, according to the Mojave Desert Land Trust.
State Route 62 Crossings Take Shape in the Mojave Desert
State Route 62 has severed the ecological corridor connecting Joshua Tree National Park on the east and the Sand to Snow National Monument on the west. Kelly Herbinson, executive director of the Mojave Desert Land Trust, told KTLA earlier this year that the highway effectively fragments the habitat for native wildlife species. The urgency of the project was underlined in late April when an 18-month-old male cougar was struck and killed on the highway’s Yucca Grade. Funding for the two proposed crossings began arriving in February when the Mojave Desert Land Trust secured a $5.5 million grant from the California Wildlife Conservation Board. The Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy added another $512,000 grant in May following the mountain lion’s death on the roadway.
Wildlife Researchers Begin Collecting DNA and Tracking Movement
Researchers have initiated field surveys across the Mojave Desert to map animal movement and genetic exchange ahead of construction. Wildlife teams are documenting species including bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and bobcats. A primary method involves collecting animal scat with the help of detection dogs for subsequent DNA analysis. Geary Hund, senior biologist and wildlife crossing project manager, told the San Bernardino Sun that these long-term genetic studies will track changes in genetic health as animals begin using the new structures. The current research phase is scheduled to run through April 2027, followed by a second phase extending through December 2029 that will incorporate roadkill surveys.
Engineering Surveys and Future Construction Timeline
The proposed wildlife crossings remain in their early planning and design stages. Kelly Herbinson stated that completing engineering surveys, environmental permitting, and structural designs will take approximately three years. Current grant funding will bring the two projects to roughly 65 percent design completion. Once the technical studies and environmental review plans are finalized, project partners will seek additional financial backing for the construction phase. A final monitoring phase will take place after construction concludes to measure how wildlife responds to the completed overpasses.
Common Questions About the Mojave Desert Wildlife Crossings
Which protected areas will the State Route 62 crossings connect?
The crossings will connect Joshua Tree National Park to the east with the Sand to Snow National Monument to the west.
What species are researchers tracking in the project area?
Researchers are surveying bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and bobcats using field surveys and scat DNA analysis.
How is the planning phase funded?
The Mojave Desert Land Trust secured a $5.5 million grant from the California Wildlife Conservation Board in February, followed by a $512,000 grant from the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy in May.
When will construction begin?
Construction is still years away. Project organizers estimate it will take three years to complete engineering surveys, environmental permitting, and the design process before seeking separate construction funding.
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