The film highlights the construction and importance of a wildlife underpass beneath Interstate 4 (I-4) in Polk County, Florida. For over half a century, the highway had fragmented the Hilochee Wildlife Management Area, creating a significant barrier to wildlife movement.
The documentary details the collaboration between the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the fStop Foundation, and various conservation partners to address this issue. A key part of the story involves the data collected from a GPS-collared bear, M34, which helped determine the ideal location for the crossing and emphasized the urgency of the project.
Building Wild Spaces demonstrates how infrastructure development and environmental efforts can work in concert to protect natural heritage. The underpass successfully reconnects a critical section of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, offering renewed hope for species like the endangered Florida panther and providing a model for future wildlife crossings across the state.