Don’t fence me in: Hillary Rosner explores global wildlife connectivity and movement in ‘Roam’

In this episode of The Right Question, host Lauren Korn interviews author Hilary Rosner about her book 'Roam: Wild Animals and the Race to Repair Our Fractured World.' Rosner explores the critical importance of wildlife connectivity—how animals need to move freely across landscapes to survive, especially in the face of climate change and human-made barriers like roads, fences, and urban sprawl. She defines connectivity in multiple dimensions: linear (physical movement), functional (ecosystem integrity), and emotional (human empathy for non-human life). The conversation highlights how climate change forces species to migrate, but infrastructure like highways and obsolete fencing severely restricts their movement. Rosner shares inspiring examples of solutions, including wildlife crossings in Los Angeles, reforested corridors in Costa Rica, and fence removal initiatives in Wyoming. She emphasizes that even small actions—like rethinking fence design or creating bird-friendly overpasses—can restore ecological flow. Despite systemic challenges, Rosner finds hope in the persistent dedication of scientists, farmers, volunteers, and communities working to rebuild connections between fragmented habitats. The episode ultimately calls for a shift in how humans perceive boundaries and coexistence with nature.