In the YouTube video “We’re creating the world’s biggest wildlife corridor” from the channel “Planet Wild,” viewers are taken inside one of the most ambitious conservation projects on Earth: the Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) initiative. The goal is as bold as it sounds—reconnect a vast stretch of the Rocky Mountains so wildlife can move freely again, despite highways, railways, and human development slicing habitats into isolated fragments.
This blog repurposes the video into a deeper educational guide: what Y2Y is, why wildlife corridors matter, how crossings actually work, and why this project is becoming a global model for coexistence between people and nature.
What is the Yellowstone to Yukon initiative?
Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) is a long-term effort to create a massive, connected “living landscape” that stretches from Yellowstone National Park in the United States to Canada’s Yukon region.
The core idea: connectivity at a continental scale
Y2Y’s vision is to link protected areas and key habitats into one functional corridor so animals can:
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migrate seasonally
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find food and mates
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expand into suitable habitat as conditions change
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maintain genetic diversity (so populations don’t weaken over time)
According to the video’s highlights, the corridor spans five U.S. states, two Canadian provinces, and more than 75 Indigenous territories, connecting 11 major national parks and over 100 existing protected areas. It’s a truly cross-border project—ecology doesn’t follow political lines, so conservation can’t either.
The scale is almost hard to imagine
The initiative covers roughly 1.3 million square kilometers, comparable to the size of a large country. That size matters because many iconic species—like grizzly bears—need enormous territories to survive and reproduce.
A multi-decade commitment
Y2Y has been underway for over 30 years. That’s important: landscape restoration isn’t a one-season project. It requires:
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years of data collection
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long-term partnerships
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government coordination
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steady funding
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engineering that lasts decades
Why wildlife corridors are necessary
Wildlife corridors aren’t just “nice-to-have” green routes. They’re increasingly essential because modern infrastructure tends to break ecosystems into isolated islands.
Habitat fragmentation is a silent crisis
When roads, railways, towns, and industrial development cut through habitat, animals face:
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fewer safe routes to reach food and water
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limited access to mates
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shrinking ranges
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increased stress and conflict near humans
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higher mortality from collisions
Over time, isolated groups become more vulnerable because reduced movement can lead to inbreeding and weaker overall populations.
Grizzly bears are a clear example
The video emphasizes grizzlies because they’re both wide-ranging and sensitive to fragmentation. Their historic range has been drastically reduced over the last couple of centuries due to habitat loss and human expansion.
Even when habitat still exists on both sides of a highway, animals may not be able to safely cross it—turning one population into two.
The infrastructure problem: highways and railways as barriers
A key point in the video is that some of the biggest threats to wildlife aren’t intentional harm—they’re the side effects of how we build.
Railways and highways can become “walls”
The Canadian Pacific Railway, built in 1881, is one historic example mentioned in the highlights. Add modern highways, and you get:
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fast-moving traffic
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constant noise
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physical fences and barriers
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habitat disturbance that pushes animals away
For large mammals, it’s not just “dangerous”—it’s often nearly impossible.
Collisions are a major cause of mortality
In some areas referenced in the highlights, vehicle and train collisions are a leading cause of grizzly bear deaths, with about half of studied bear deaths attributed to these accidents. Beyond the tragedy for wildlife, collisions also create real risks and costs for people.
The “46 attempts” story shows what animals are up against
One of the most striking moments described is a young grizzly bear (named Lingenpolter) attempting to cross a highway 46 times before successfully doing it.
That detail is more than dramatic—it shows how fragmentation forces animals into repeated, dangerous trial-and-error behavior, increasing stress and the chances of fatal encounters.
Wildlife crossings: how modern engineering helps nature move again
If a road is a barrier, a wildlife crossing is the bridge—literally and figuratively—between two living worlds.
What counts as a wildlife crossing?
The video highlights several types, designed for different species and landscapes:
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Overpasses: wide bridges covered with soil and native plants, built to feel like real forest ground
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Underpasses: open, roomy passages beneath highways used by deer, elk, bears, and more
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Tunnels: small-scale routes for amphibians like toads
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Canopy bridges: aerial pathways for squirrels and other tree-dwellers
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Specialized salamander crossings: carefully placed routes that match movement patterns and moisture needs
This variety matters because a crossing that works for an elk may not work for a salamander—and conservation succeeds when it fits biology.
Why overpasses work so well
Overpasses are often designed with:
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thousands of tonnes of soil
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native vegetation
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natural curvature and visual cover
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width that reduces fear and exposure
To an animal, the goal is simple: it shouldn’t feel like a bridge. It should feel like “the land continues.”
The hidden hero: fencing that guides wildlife safely
Crossings aren’t effective if animals can still access the road at random points. That’s why fencing is a critical part of the system—not to block movement, but to guide it toward safe routes.
The video highlights sophisticated fencing innovations such as:
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buried chain-link aprons to prevent animals from digging underneath
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graduated wire spacing so both small and large species are accounted for
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high-tensile cables at the top to reduce damage from falling trees
In other words, the fence isn’t just “a fence.” It’s an engineered tool for multi-species safety and long-term durability.
Do wildlife crossings actually work?
Yes—and the results are one of the most hopeful parts of this story.
Collision reductions are dramatic
The video’s highlights note that wildlife crossings can reduce vehicle collisions by over 90%. That translates into:
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fewer animal deaths
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fewer human injuries
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less vehicle damage
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reduced emergency response costs
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safer driving corridors
It’s a rare conservation strategy that is both wildlife-friendly and human-friendly in an immediate, measurable way.
The Y2Y region already has momentum
Over 200 wildlife crossings have reportedly been built in the broader Y2Y region so far. That’s a key sign that this is not just a concept—it’s an active transformation of the landscape.
The Highway 3 bottleneck: where the next big push is happening
The video spotlights Highway 3 as a major current barrier.
Why Highway 3 is such a problem
Highway 3 divides two grizzly bear populations, limiting movement and reducing genetic exchange. When that exchange drops, the long-term risks rise:
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weaker population resilience
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less adaptability to disease or environmental change
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greater chance of local collapse
The plan: new crossings built from data
Y2Y’s plan includes 27 new wildlife crossings, including three overpass bridges, to reconnect these populations.
What’s especially important is the data-driven approach. The project uses tools like:
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camera traps to see where animals actually travel
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GPS collars on species like elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, and grizzlies to map movement corridors
This helps identify priority locations for crossings, ensuring the infrastructure is built where it will be used—not where humans simply think it looks convenient.
Indigenous territories and community collaboration
One of the biggest reasons Y2Y is notable is the scale of collaboration.
The corridor spans more than 75 Indigenous territories (as noted in your highlights), which means meaningful progress requires:
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relationship-building
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respect for sovereignty and stewardship
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integration of local knowledge and priorities
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long-term cooperation, not short-term extraction
Large conservation projects succeed when they are built with communities, not imposed on them.
Funding and public engagement: why awareness matters
Wildlife crossings, monitoring programs, and large-scale coordination require significant investment.
The role of Planet Wild’s community
The video frames Planet Wild as a global community supporting the project through funding and awareness efforts. While government funding is often essential for infrastructure at this scale, public support plays a real role by:
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keeping momentum visible
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helping justify investment
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building cultural pressure for nature-smart design
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turning “wildlife safety” into a shared value rather than a niche issue
Why this project matters beyond North America
Y2Y is not only about grizzlies and the Rockies. It’s about a larger question:
Can modern infrastructure exist without breaking the living systems around it?
The Y2Y model suggests the answer can be yes—if we design roads with ecology in mind, use real data, commit long-term, and invest in solutions that benefit both wildlife and people.
It’s also a blueprint for future conservation in a warming world, where animals may need to shift their ranges to survive.
What this teaches us about coexistence in everyday life
Most of us won’t build a wildlife overpass—but we do make daily choices that reflect how we live alongside nature.
One simple theme from the Y2Y story is prevention beats repair. The same logic shows up at home: small, consistent systems prevent bigger problems later.
For pet households, for example, prevention can include routines that keep living spaces comfortable—especially around high-traffic areas, soft surfaces, and cleaning habits:
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If you’re managing rugs and carpeted areas where pets lounge, products like Carpet Deodorizers can be part of keeping spaces fresh between deeper cleans.
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For washable essentials like pet bedding, throws, and covers, a reliable laundry routine matters—especially during shedding seasons. That’s where Laundry Powders fit naturally into the conversation.
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For daily wipe-downs of pet areas, entryways, and surfaces that collect grime, All Purpose Cleaners can support a consistent baseline of cleanliness.
If you want more home-and-nature-friendly reading, you can explore the Good Natured Brand Blog for additional guides.
Final thoughts: rebuilding the “missing connections”
The story in Planet Wild’s video is ultimately about restoring what roads and rails unintentionally removed: connection.
The Yellowstone to Yukon initiative shows what happens when conservation meets engineering, when data guides design, and when long-term collaboration becomes the standard rather than the exception. With crossings that feel like forest floor, fences that guide rather than trap, and monitoring that proves what works, Y2Y is demonstrating a hopeful truth:
We don’t have to choose between functional human infrastructure and thriving wildlife. With the right planning, we can build both—and let the wild keep moving.
