Border Walls Divide Wildlife, Not Just People: Lynx and Other Species at Risk

From the US-Mexico barrier to fences in Eastern Europe, new data reveals how border walls severely disrupt wildlife migration, fracturing habitats and threatening species like lynx, bison, jaguars, and wolves. In Poland’s Białowieża Forest, a steel fence intended to deter human crossings has trapped lynx, blocking mating routes and splitting populations. Similar barriers hamper jaguars in the American Southwest. Conservationists label this a hidden crisis: as animals naturally migrate for food, breeding, or climate shifts, fences and walls create genetic bottlenecks. Though some countries try partial solutions—like gates for antelope in Central Asia—success is mixed. Ecologists warn that as more fences rise, biodiversity and ecosystem health suffer, spotlighting a conflict between national security priorities and environmental stewardship.