Skip to main content

Official website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means it's official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Pennsylvania Wildlife Connectivity Work Group

    Wildlife connectivity refers to the ability of animals to move freely across land and water so they can access the habitats and resources they need to survive, and a recent example is the new naturalistic fish passage at Shikellamy State Park that helps aquatic species move unobstructed around the inflatable dam on the Susquehanna River.

    The Governor’s Office established the Pennsylvania Wildlife Connectivity Interagency Work Group, which focuses on advancing wildlife corridors and crossings through coordinated planning, mapping and data collection, landscape conservation efforts, and leveraging state, federal and private funding. 

    The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will serve as lead facilitators in convening the Work Group.

    The Wildlife Connectivity Work Group will be comprised of the following state agencies:

    • Department of Agriculture (PDA)
    • Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
    • Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) 
    • Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) 
    • Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) 
    • Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) 
    • Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) 
    • Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS)
    • Department of Insurance
    • Department of Transportation (PENNDOT)
    • Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) 

    The primary responsibility of the Work Group would be to develop a comprehensive statewide strategic plan, using science-based analysis and wildlife habitat and connectivity data, which prioritizes wildlife connectivity corridors that improve wildlife movement and core habitat protections across landscapes, watersheds, and prioritized transportation corridors. 

    Pennsylvania Wildlife Connectivity Work Group Updates

    The first meeting was held May 18, 2026. This page will be updated as the strategic planning process moves forward. 

    Additional Resources

    The State House of Representatives Legislative Budget and Finance Committee recently released a report pursuant to HR 87 (2023) entitled The Current Status of Conservation Connectivity in Pennsylvania (June 2024) which laid out key recommendations to manage increased habitat fragmentation and advance conservation corridors.

    PennEnvironment recently released a report entitled Wildlife Corridors: How Reconnecting Habitats is Protecting Pennsylvania’s Native Species (March 2025) which highlights specific connectivity projects and lays out policy and legislative recommendations. PennDOT was interviewed and provided information for the report.