Non-Profit Documentary – California Wildlife Reconnected

This recap documentary video for the California Wildlife Reconnected’s Road Trip Across America highlights the 10-day journey taken in the summer of 2024, covering 2000 miles across California. The aim was to raise awareness for wildlife crossings across the state. As part of the Wildlife Crossings team’s journey, we captured bothinterviews and b-roll footage at each stop along the way, from proposed wildlife crossing sites to completed projects. We documented critical moments, capturing the teams insights, progress, and the importance of these vital structures.

Throughout the trip, we captured a variety of elements from each location—from the expansive highways in need of crossings to the intricate details of the structures designed to protect wildlife and people. We filmed interviews with project leaders, wildlife experts, and local advocates, bringing to light the dedicated work and passion behind each initiative. Additionally, we collected footage of the wildlife crossings themselves, highlighting their structural features designed to safely connect wildlife corridors across California’s busy highways.

The resulting video serves not only as a comprehensive recap of the journey but also as a powerful storytelling tool, showcasing the progress of wildlife crossing projects and the people working to make them a reality. Each segment of the video highlights the urgency of preserving wildlife habitats while preventing dangerous collisions, and underscores the ongoing need for these crucial conservation efforts. With its mix of personal stories, expert insights, and environmental visuals, this recap video provides a dynamic snapshot of the Wildlife Crossings team’s impactful journey across California.

Much more to come!

The Wildlife Crossing’s Road Trip team members include:

Steve Winter, a wildlife photojournalist for National Geographic Magazine for over two decades.
Beth Pratt, a lifelong advocate for wildlife, working in environmental leadership roles for over 30 years, and in two of the country’s largest national parks: Yosemite and Yellowstone.
Renee Callahan, with over 30 years of professional experience in federal, state, and administrative law, policy, and research.
Sharon Guynup, an award-winning journalist, photographer, producer and presenter.
Marta Brocki, a coordinator of multidisciplinary solutions for wildlife connectivity and the safe movement of people and wildlife for over a decade.

Each year, an estimated one to two million collisions occur between cars and large animals in the United States, resulting in over $9 billion in damages, including vehicle repairs, medical costs, and road cleanup. These incidents not only put human lives at risk but also threaten wildlife populations and disrupt ecosystems. Studies have shown that well-designed wildlife crossings can reduce these collisions by as much as 97%, offering a crucial solution to the mounting problem. To raise awareness and promote the importance of these structures, a dedicated team of experts embarks on the Wildlife Crossings Across America Road Trip every year—an immersive expedition that spans the country and beyond, highlighting critical regions where wildlife connectivity is needed most.

Depthink Productions, in collaboration with Dogoodery, joined the California Wildlife Reconnected team on a 2000-mile journey across the state. Over the course of 10 days, the team visited various wildlife crossing projects, capturing firsthand the efforts of local wildlife teams working to protect both animals and humans from the dangers posed by busy highway systems. The trip provided a unique opportunity to document these vital projects in action, learning more about the specific regions, their unique challenges, and the innovative solutions being implemented to safeguard wildlife corridors.

Throughout the journey, Depthink Productions worked closely with the California Wildlife Reconnected team to create a visual narrative that would educate the public about the importance of wildlife crossings and their impact on conservation. By showcasing these projects and the people behind them, the aim was to bring greater attention to the need for more wildlife crossings across the state, and across the nation, ensuring that wildlife can safely navigate the world without the ever-present threat of vehicular collisions. The documentary ultimately serves as both a call to action and a celebration of the dedicated individuals and organizations working to protect the natural world and the people who share it.