Arizona recently cancelled a $1.25 million bridge for squirrels.

This squirrel bridge was expected to save 5 squirrels annually.

Plans were cancelled only after becoming a focus of national ridicule.

The $1.25 million remains available.

Solution:
Use a portion of unspent squirrel bridge funds to restore transplant funding.

Amount available:
Approximately $1.25 million.

Circumstances:
“Arizona is spending $1.25 million to build bridges for endangered squirrels over a mountain road so they don't become roadkill and then monitor their health.” 
        - June 17, 2010 ABC News Story by John Wetenhall, “Arizona Spends $1.25 Million to Save 250 Squirrels - Rope Bridges Expected to Save 5 Squirrels a Year From Being Road Kill”

 
“Arizona abruptly canceled plans today to spend $1.25 million to build bridges for a colony of 250 squirrels so they would not have to cross a rural road and could avoid becoming road kill.”

 “The cancellation came after news reports, including one from ABC News, highlighted the planned expenditure."
        - June 18, 2010 ABC News Story by John Weterhall, "Arizona Cancels $1.25M Bridge for 250 Squirrels"



Where does this $1.25 million come from?
"Halikowski did not specify how the $1.25 million million would be used now, but said in his statement 'if necessary, the department will forfeit the $1.25 million project cost and return the funds to Washington, D.C.' rather than spend it on squirrels."

"Arizona receives resources each year for enhancement projects like this one as part of their Federal Highway grant money, but it is up to the Arizona Department of Transportation to decide how to use the money."
        - June 18, 2010 ABC News Story by John Weterhall, "Arizona Cancels $1.25M Bridge for 250 Squirrels"



How this works:
- Saves human lives instead of saving squirrels.
- ADOT can use those federal funds to build human infrastructure.
- That's an extra, unexpected $1.25 million now available for human roads, etc.
- Offset state funding of ADOT by $1.25 million.
- Use the newly freed up state money to restore transplant funding.
.