VIRGINIA (Rocktown Now) – Virginia is the ninth likeliest state for a driver to hit wildlife, but environmental advocates are working to change that.

One in 76 people in Virginia are likely to collide with an animal on the road in the Commonwealth.

Advocates tried to pass legislation during this General Assembly session that would have established a grant fund to provide money for wildlife corridor projects, but the bill stalled out.

Dr. Meg Gammage-Tucker, with the Wildlife Center of Virginia, says wildlife corridors involve fencing to guide larger mammals to safe natural crossings, instead of busy roads.

“It provides exclusionary fencing. Black bears, deer, bobcats are not going to cross a major roadway,” Gammage-Tucker said. “That protects the animals, and it protects the people that are driving in those spaces. Because there’s not only an animal cost, but there’s a human health cost. “

Instead of the grant fund, a budget proposal has advanced that will provide 450-thousand dollars to support the implementation of the Virginia Wildlife Corridor Action Plan.