Habitat islands are areas that contain all the necessities for wildlife to survive and thrive. But too often these islands are not large enough to provide long-term support for the animals who live within. Areas surrounding these islands are not hospitable to wildlife, and wildlife that naturally venture beyond the confines of their habitat islands are often at risk of conflict with humans and human development. The concept of wildlife corridors has become a way to direct animal movement away from, or safely through, dangers caused by humans. As humans continue to dominate the landscape, habitat islands and wildlife corridors will become increasingly necessary for the survival of our many wild species.
This episode won a Silver Telly award in 2022!
Episode Bonus: Join us for UNTAMED Unfiltered to take a deeper look inside each episode with some of the Center's UNTAMED producers and special guests. In this episode, Amanda and Aaron sit down with Devin Floyd of Center for Urban Habitats and Misty Boos of Wild Virginia, both featured in this week's episode of UNTAMED.
Learn More
- Learn more about Untamed guest Dr. Thomas Lovejoy and his work with Institute for a Sustainable Earth at George Mason University
- Read more about the work of Dr. Thomas Lovejoy: Fifty Years in the Amazon, with the Amazon Biodiversity Center
- Learn more about Untamed guest Devin Floyd and his work with Center for Urban Habitats
- Interested in how you can help spotted salamanders in Virginia? Check out Wildlife Tunnels: Safeguarding a Mighty Salamander Migration
- Vernal Pools for Salamanders are important pieces of seasonal habitats for these tiny amphibians. Consider creating a vernal pool or a small wetland on your property!
- Learn more about the identification and natural history of Spotted Salamanders with the Virginia Herpetological Society
- Learn more about Untamed guest Misty Boos and her work with Wild Virginia
- Get involved with the Virginia Safe Wildlife Corridors Collaborative (VSWCC) to create more safe habitat corridors!
- The Wildlife Corridor Action Plan (Virginia) is an important piece of legislation for the state's wildlife.
- The fall is the most dangerous time of year for deer-vehicle collisions in Virginia. Help Prevent Deer-Vehicle Collision with these helpful tips.
- How is human behavior impacting wildlife movement?
- Interested in getting involved with wildlife corridor work in your state? Check out State Wildlife Corridor Legislation, Wildlands Network
For Classrooms
Looking for ideas on how to incorporate the stories and lessons of UNTAMED into the classroom? Habitat Islands and Wildlife Corridors In (About) 2 Minutes highlights the major concepts and ideas explored in this UNTAMED episode and is a quick resource for teachers who want to kick off a discussion.
Take the learning experience for your classroom or student group one step further with our specialized activity packets. These interactive resources combine summative reading sheets with writing and critical thinking exercises related to the topics and themes covered in each UNTAMED episode. Each page is designed to be used individually or as a complete workbook, making this activity packet perfect for educators looking to customize the lessons that can be learned from UNTAMED.
Are you using these materials and resources in your classroom? We are eager to hear from you! Please let us know, so we can share your classroom projects and experiences with other teachers. Contact us at edu@wildlifecenter.org.