It’s The Last Big Asheville Science Salon of 2024!

Safe Passage with wildlife biologist Dr. Liz Hillard.

Why did the chicken cross the road? This mystery has long confounded farmers, fence-builders, and philosophers. If, however, you ask the question about bears, elk, snakes, or turtles, the answer is obvious: the animal was just going about its business and the road was in the way.

More than four million miles of U.S. roadways offer incredible convenience, delivering our selves (and all our crap) from here to there. Passing through forests, grasslands, and wetlands, however, many roads can constitute a concern. Placed for our efficiency, roads often dissect ecosystems and cut off migration routes that animals rely on to find food, mates, and suitable habitat. Sadly, as many as one million animals are killed on US roads every day.

But there is hope – through science! Road ecologists (yup, that’s a thing) are working on innovative solutions to reduce the impact of highways on habitats.

At our next salon … join Dr. Liz Hillard to examine habitat connectivity in Western North Carolina, learn about the Pigeon River Gorge/I-40 corridor’s wildlife tunnels, culverts, and overpasses, and discuss the challenges (and opportunities) in rebuilding after Hurricane Helene. For more than a decade, Liz has worked tirelessly on wildlife conservation in the Southern Appalachians, including directing research on wildlife corridors in North Carolina and Tennessee. She is the Senior Wildlife Biologist (Appalachian Region) for Wildlands Network and also serves on the executive board of the North Carolina chapter of The Wildlife Society.

Doors open at 5:00. Have a drink with old friends, meet new ones, and get ready for some serious science in a seriously un-serious setting.

Presentation begins at 7:00 PM. Stick around for a lively Q&A session and discussion.