Squirrel bridge


A squirrel bridge is a construction which enables small animals, especially squirrels and martens, to safely cross busy roadways. The bridges are a measure for wildlife management and natural habitat preservation, and serve the functions of both animal welfare and accident prevention. The Nutty Narrows Bridge in Longview, Washington, built in 1963, is regarded as the first of its kind. The city has since built eight other bridges for squirrels.
Costs to construct squirrel bridges vary significantly, depending on construction. Simple rope bridge constructions, such as those in Brecht, Belgium, have cost only about 250 euros, while the bridge built in The Hague in 2013 took half a year to construct and cost 150,000–200,000 euros.

List of squirrel bridges

The following bridges protect the red squirrel, common in Europe, or the North American gray squirrel.
ImageCountryPlaceYearType/NumberNotes
United StatesOlympia Way near 18th Avenue, Longview, Washington1963Suspension bridge"Nutty Narrows Bridge."
United States1318 Kessler Boulevard, Longview, Washington2011Covered bridge"Bruce Kamp Bridge."
United StatesNichols Boulevard near Kentucky Boulevard, Longview, Washington2012Cable-stayed bridge"John R. Dick Bridge." Modeled after the Leonard P. Zakim [Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge] in Boston, Massachusetts.
United StatesLouisiana Street near 23rd Avenue, Longview, Washington2014Covered bridge"OBEC Bridge."
United StatesKessler Boulevard near 24th Avenue, Longview, Washington2015Truss bridge"Safety Awareness Bridge." Designed and built by the Bits and Bots Robotics Club of R. A. Long High School and Mark Morris High School.
United StatesKessler Boulevard near Washington Way, Longview, WashingtonTruss bridge"R.D. Olson Mfg. Bridge." Modeled after the Lewis and [Clark Bridge (Columbia River)|Lewis and Clark Bridge] in Longview, Washington.
United StatesKessler Boulevard near 20th Avenue, Longview, WashingtonTied-arch bridge"S & R Bridge." Modeled after the Fremont Bridge (Portland, Oregon).
United StatesKessler Boulevard near 22nd Avenue, Longview, WashingtonTruss bridge"PUD Bridge."
BelgiumBrussels, Ring 02013Ropes/nets and steel pipe attached to a gantry
BelgiumBrecht, Belgium, Andrélaan2013Two rope bridges
BelgiumNortheast of Antwerp Province, Belgium2023Ropes attached to trees at a height of approximately 10 meters.16 bridges are installed in Schilde, Schoten, Wijnegem and Deurne. Select positions will be monitored by cameras
FranceLa Rochelle, Parc Franck-Delmas/Parc d'Orbigny2012Rope bridge„Écureuilloduc“
NetherlandsRijksweg 12, between Ede and interchange Grijsoord2016Two rope bridges
Image:Squirrel bridge in [The Hague (02).jpg|100x100px]NetherlandsThe Hague, Benoordenhoutseweg2012A camera monitoring the bridge suggested that squirrels largely ignored the bridge in a widely reported story in 2016. As of 2022, however, the bridge is regularly used by both squirrels and martens.
Image:Squirrel bridge Europaboulevard [Amsterdam.jpg|100x100px]NetherlandsAmsterdam, Europaboulevard in Amstelpark2011/2012Parallel ropes connected to netting.
NetherlandsRoermond, Heinsbergerweg2013
100x100pxGermanyBerlin-Friedrichshagen, Müggelseedamm2014Rope bridge
GermanyVlotho, Burgstraße2012Rope bridge
United KingdomScotland, Aberdeen2008
United KingdomEngland, near Formby2004Rope bridge