A Regis University Alumna’s perseverance, passion saves wild lives

Starting in 2025, hundreds, and eventually thousands, of California cougars — along with foxes, deer and other wildlife — will owe their lives to Regis alumna Beth Pratt.

Pratt is living the Jesuit mission by making it her own mission to save cougars. In Southern California, where she works, that means protecting them from perhaps their greatest threat: freeway traffic.

As California regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation, Pratt has spent 10 years spearheading the #SaveLACougars campaign. With help from a $25 million challenge grant from philanthropist Wallis Annenberg and the Annenberg Foundation, she succeeded in raising over $100 million needed to build a bridge that would allow wildlife to safely cross the 101 Freeway.

In April 2022, work began on the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, which will provide a secure path for cougars, and other wildlife, to cross over 10 lanes of the 101 Freeway north of Los Angeles in Agoura Hills, Calif.

Pratt, a graduate of the Regis MBA program, credits her instructors and what she learned with inspiring her dream of building the crossing.

“The Regis MBA program emphasized service and greater purpose, with a focus on complex problem-solving and leadership,” she said.

Human incursion into wildlife habitats has reduced the available territories for mountain lions. Additionally, Southern California’s network of freeways effectively isolates cougars to the extent that they are diminishing their own population through inbreeding. In the case of some cougars, severe isolation has even prevented them from breeding altogether. Those that do try to find new habitat often venture onto freeways and are struck and killed by passing cars.

When it opens in 2025, the 200-foot-long, 175-footwide Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Overpass will be the largest wildlife walkway in the world. In addition to its considerable scale, what sets the crossing apart from other wildlife overpass systems is that it accommodates an entire ecosystem on its surface. A nearby plant nursery is cultivating indigenous, fire-resistant plants, which will ultimately blanket the crossing.

The crossing incorporates custom-designed sound walls, complemented by natural sound-dampening elements such as tall trees and dense vegetation. The entire setup is carefully crafted so, as wildlife stroll over 10 lanes of busy freeway, they may not notice the roar of cars below. That design element was necessary as excessive noise tends to startle and deter most wildlife from crossing.

To build the wildlife crossing, Pratt secured donations not only from Annenberg but also celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Rainn Wilson, Barbra Streisand and the late musician David Crosby.

Pratt said Regis helped her think through some of the issues around fundraising but also encouraged her to think about how our work impacts the world.

“My final capstone research paper... was about how to form a nonprofit that brought financial independence to women in Afghanistan,” she said. “The MBA program excelled in teaching us how to analyze complex problems. We were tasked with writing extensive case studies each week, which compelled us to closely examine challenges and opportunities, greatly enhancing our problem solving skills.”

Pratt said she is thrilled to see the crossing finally becoming a reality. And finding purpose in creating a better environment makes her proud of the work she’s accomplished.

"To me, this is all about creating a safer environment for our wildlife. They are doing their utmost to survive, so it's our responsibility to offer them greater support. Ensuring their safety as they cross the freeways is pivotal for their future."