A SEARCH FOR SAFE PASSAGE

Why must forest creatures sacrifice their lives and livelihoods to highways for humans?

Bear and Deer are best friends who have both lost their mothers to accidents with “metal boxes with wheels” while trying to make it from the North to the South across the Human Highway. Bobcat and Coyote are two friends who lost their mentor, Fox, in a similar manner and have vowed to find a better way to get to the North from the South. Many of the Woodland animals form a Forest Council, working together to find alternative ways to seek optimal food and mates without crossing the Human Highway. They eventually find a “black hole” (later explained to be a culvert) and, with the help of the legendary Elk, a “landbridge.” The story is based on a real challenge in a real setting: the Pigeon River Gorge near the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. First-time children’s author Figart uses fictionalized animal relationships, anthropomorphism, song-lyric references, and snatches of poetry to effectively engage readers’ emotions regarding the real danger of species extinction. DuFort’s full-color cartoon illustrations add a further child-friendly note. The book concludes with scientific facts about animal types and highway design alternatives that may mutually benefit both humans and wildlife.

A thoughtful introduction to road ecology and biodiversity for young people.