Hérault installs 'squirrel bridges' across major roads
Two “squirrel bridges” made of rope are to be constructed across two major departmental roads in the Hérault in a bid to offer more protection to the endangered creatures, after numerous red squirrel casualties were reported.
The project is a partnership between the department and the League of Bird Protection (Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux (LPO)), which is seeking to reduce the number of animal casualties on the major roads, particularly among the red squirrel population, reports FranceInfo today.
Costing just €1,100 for both, the bridges - dubbed “écuroducs” in French - are set to appear in the next couple of days.
Today (October 25) will see the appearance of the first, near Villeveyrac, with the second expected this Friday (October 27) at St Jean de Fos.
Professional climbers will install the bridges, with extra assistance from the departmental road authorities.
The project aims to encourage ecological connections across the roads in question, and help squirrels flourish - a good thing, as the fluffy rodents are deemed to be very environmentally useful.
Over the next three years, the association will continue to follow the progress of the squirrel population in the area, and also study the behaviour of the squirrels on the bridges themselves.
If deemed successful, the department has not ruled out the possibility of rolling out these “environment corridors” further across the region and beyond.
