Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill creates a National Wildlife Corridor System on federal lands and waters to protect the paths animals, fish, and plants use to move between habitats. Corridors can be designated by law, rulemaking, or through land management plans, and a strategy must be developed within 18 months.
• The U.S. Geological Survey would run a new mapping and science program to track how wildlife moves across the country. The maps and data would be shared publicly and used to guide land-use planning and on-the-ground management decisions.
• A grant program would provide $75 million per year to states, tribes, private landowners, and others who work to protect wildlife movement on non-federal land. At least 10 percent of that funding must go toward big game migration corridors.
• The bill explicitly protects private property rights. The government cannot use eminent domain to seize land or impose restrictions on private land without the owner's consent. All private landowner participation is voluntary.
• Where wildlife corridors cross roads and highways, the bill directs agencies to work with state and local transportation departments to build animal overpasses, underpasses, fences, and other structures to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and keep migration routes open.
• Total authorized funding across all titles is $140 million per year, spread across five federal departments: Interior ($100 million), Transportation ($18 million), Agriculture ($10 million), Commerce ($9 million), and Defense ($3 million).

Votes

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Related Bills

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