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What happens to an ecosystem when wildlife can’t move freely due to colossal freeways and other human-made infrastructure? In her first book for young readers, UCLA Writing Programs lecturer Teddi Chichester sheds light on that complex problem.

“Wildlife Crossings of Hope: Connecting Creatures Around the Globe” (Holiday House) explores what happens to animals when they become trapped on shrinking patches of land called “habitat fragments.” If they attempt to traverse the roads or freeways that surround them, they risk getting killed by oncoming traffic. But staying within habitat fragments leads to inbreeding, ecological deterioration and, eventually, local extinction.

Through eight chapters, the book discusses the origins of the problem, some of the projects around the world that aim to create safer habitats for wildlife — including bridges over major roadways and other urban obstacles — and what the future might hold.

Chichester has taught at UCLA since 1992, and “Wildlife Crossings of Hope” is her first non-academic book; until now, most of her writing has been literary criticism of the works of 18th- and 19th-century British Romantics. Although the book might not immediately seem connected to her academic focus, Chichester said her scholarship was an inspiration for the new project.

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Photo credit: Daniel Sussman (portrait); Courtesy of Penguin Random House (book cover)