On Wednesday, we posted about the "first wildlife visitor" approaching the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Southern California, as the massive project prepares for its Dec. 2 opening.
The post included a distant trail-cam image of a coyote on the southern slope of the new overpass, which spans 10 lanes of the 101 Freeway at Liberty Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains.
On Thursday, Santa Monica Mountains National NPS shared the accompanying image, showing the coyote, which appears to be carrying a bone or a stick, negotiating a safe crossing.
"First the slope, now the crossing itself – WOW! The wildlife isn't wasting any time!" the park exclaimed via Instagram.
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More than
300,000 vehicles pass through the Liberty Canyon area on the 101 Freeway every day, posing a tremendous threat to wildlife. The new crossing connects the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills, providing a safe corridor for mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, and mule deer.
As stated by Santa Monica Mountains NPS, motion-sensor cameras have been installed to monitor critter traffic. The coyote is the first large animal to have been documented on top of the crossing.
"Seeing wildlife explore the structure before construction is even finished is incredibly exciting!" Santa Monica Mountains NPS boasted. "The crossing is scheduled to officially open to wildlife on Dec. 2, but apparently the animals didn't get the memo."
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Coyote first large critter to use new freeway crossing in California
