The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over 101 freeway takes another step

The SaveLACougars campaign, backed by the nonprofit National Wildlife Federation, on Tuesday celebrated its efforts to begin planting 5,000 native plants on the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing — a unique bridge created just for animals and plants, and built over the 101 freeway in Agoura Hills.

When completed, the bridge will help mountain lions and other wildlife safely cross the 101 freeway. And it will connect the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills in an effort to end genetic isolation of the local mountain lion population living only 10 miles from the Los Angeles city limits. When the crossing is finished in late 2025 or early 2026, it will be the largest wildlife crossing in the world.

Aradhna Malhotra Oliphant, chief operations and strategy officer of the Wallis Annenberg Legacy Foundation, said in a prepared statement, “Wallis Annenberg believed restoration could heal both ecosystems and the human spirit. Seeing this milestone come to life is a powerful reminder of her enduring commitment, which we are honored to carry forward. She established the Wallis Annenberg Legacy Foundation to ensure that visionary efforts like the Wildlife Crossing would continue beyond her lifetime.”

Robert Rock, whose company is helping to create the landscape, said in a prepared statement, “It’s exciting to reach this native planting milestone and we’re looking forward to seeing the new, nearly one-acre native wildlife habitat take hold and thrive across the surface of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing.”