The bridge was built in 2012 and cost more than 150,000 euros. Squirrels and pine martens can safely cross the N44 via this route. However, the bridge was barely used. According to Omroep West, only five squirrels were spotted on the wildlife cameras at the bridge in two years.
The now deceased forester Jenny van Leeuwen remained optimistic and emphasized that “it needed time”. And that was right. Because the camera images show that in 2021 more than 263 squirrels crossed the bridge and 170 pine martens.
Urban ecologist Esther Vogelaar tells Omroep West that animals indeed often have to get used to new situations. “It took many years before the animals really put the bridge into use, but we can now speak of a great success.”
The Squirrel Bridge over the Benoordenhoutseweg in The Hague
Ⓒ Phil Nijhuis