BioBlitz Aims to Gather Data for New Wildlife Crossings

A collaboration between students and biologists is moving forward in gathering data on flora and fauna on the fatal-for-wildlife Highway 20.

The program contributes to the Bend to Suttle Lake Wildlife Passage Initiative, managed by Central Oregon LandWatch the Oregon Wildlife Foundation, COLW’s fiscal sponsor. The Initiative aims to create a solution to the hundreds of wildlife-vehicle collisions along the 35 miles of Highway 20 from Suttle Lake to Bend. An estimated 200 to 650 mule deer and elk are killed on that land yearly.

The collaboration includes biologists from the Oregon Department of Wildlife and Oregon State University and 16 students from Sisters High School. The effort, happening from April 14 through 27, involves participating students and biologists gathering data from the Highway 20 between Suttle Lake and Bend.

“The Bioblitz is a great opportunity to engage with the community while also allowing us to teach students about the native wildlife species in our area that would benefit from improved habitat connectivity provided by crossing structures,” Wildlife Habitat Biologist for ODFW Jessica Wilkes stated in a press release.

Highway 20 twists through migratory routes elk and mule deer use as the seasons change. According to the ODFW, migration and breeding occurs throughout October and November, which is also when they are most likely to be hit and killed by vehicles.

According to B2S, creating routes over the highway for wildlife to safely cross would significantly reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions.

The Bioblitz will allow students and biologists to collect data on birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, plants and fungi all within forests and meadows near Black Butte. The data will allow biologists to understand biodiversity in the area which will help as they work through the pre-construction phase of the project.

“I love seeing the students using field sampling methods and really diving into the process,” Rima Givot, science teacher at Sisters High School, stated.

Each day, students break into groups, conduct surveys at one of the future crossing locations. They collect information on scat, tracks and wildlife and plant species they directly observe.

“The idea is to obtain a snapshot in time of species presence in the area prior to the construction of wildlife crossing structures,” Wilkes told the Source.

Wilkes says students help gather data on both sides of Highway 20 and will create a model for a crossing that may be used in future designs.

Currently, the project is in “phase two” which includes community engagement and members of B2S developing design and engineering aspects of the four priority locations. These locations lie between Suttle Lake and Sisters and will all be overcrossings — paths built over highways to improve connectivity.

Four priority locations will all be built before seven other viable locations on Highway 20. Those seven locations will be built once opportunities and funding have been secured.

These locations were chosen for crossings based on their neighboring publicly owned lands, wildlife-vehicle collision densities, value to migrating wildlife and vicinity to other crossing sites.

Phase two of the project also prompted coalition members from B2S to fundraise money to be eligible for a federal grant match. They have surpassed that goal after being awarded $688,800 from Oregon’s Watershed Enhancement Board in 2025.

Two final phases of the project remain which are construction, and evaluation and monitoring. Once completed the coalition will continue to assess how impactful the new crossings have been in public and wildlife safety.

After Gov. Kotek signed the 1.25% for Wildlife Bill in early April, ODFW will also begin to receive new funding for creating wildlife crossings.

“We do not know exactly how much money will be available for the B2S project,” Alex Hardison, communications manager for Central Oregon LandWatch, told the Source. “Its passage is one of the most profound changes to how Oregon funds conservation work, including wildlife crossings, and sets the bar nationally for how states can meaningfully address conservation needs.”

Construction of the crossings is expected to begin between 2027 and 2030. Seven other potential locations will be completed once funding is secured.