Nut bridge: how the US came up with a way to save furry pedestrians (7 photos + 1 video)

Life wasn't easy for squirrels in the town of Longview, Washington. Every day, the little creatures had to run across busy Olympia Way to get to the Park Plaza office building, where kind employees fed them nuts.





But the road was like a roulette wheel - literally one wrong jump, and... bam! The fluffy cutie ended up under the wheels and died...



This is exactly the sad picture that local builder Amos Peters observed in 1963. He and his colleagues, having lunch in the park, more than once saw how squirrels died under cars. And then they had an idea: what if we build a special bridge for squirrels?





With the approval of the city council, Peters and his team built the Nutty Narrows Bridge, a narrow arched walkway over the road that provided a safe alternative to the deadly runs and the world's first dedicated squirrel infrastructure.



The squirrels quickly figured out how to use it. And soon local residents began to notice touching scenes: adult squirrels patiently teach baby squirrels to cross the road on a bridge.



By 2007, the wooden bridge had become dilapidated and was moved to a new location. Now it is a local landmark. And if you take a walk near Lake Sacajawea, you can find other "squirrel crossings".



The animals were given a convenient path. And following this example, squirrel bridges began to appear in other cities and countries. Squirrels are excellent at remembering safe routes and teaching their offspring. And perhaps people should learn careful behavior on the road from these cuties.