Wildlife

Wildlife Road Mortality: Scale and Solutions

Roads kill billions of animals annually worldwide, representing one of the largest sources of anthropogenic wildlife mortality.

Key Facts

An estimated 1 million vertebrates are killed on US roads every day
In the UK, hedgehogs have declined by 30% partly due to road deaths
Badger road mortality is a significant conservation concern in the UK
Wildlife underpasses and overpasses reduce road mortality by up to 90%
Light and noise pollution along roads disturb wildlife beyond the road itself

Welfare Considerations

Vehicle collisions cause acute traumatic injury and death. Many animals are injured rather than killed, suffering for hours or days. Roads fragment habitats, increasing the stress of dispersal movements. Nocturnal animals are particularly vulnerable. Beyond individual suffering, road mortality reduces population viability for species already under pressure.

What You Can Do

Drive slowly at dawn and dusk in wildlife-rich areas
Support hedgehog street campaigns and create garden wildlife corridors
Advocate for wildlife crossing infrastructure in planning applications
Report road casualties to local wildlife trusts and monitoring schemes
Support organisations lobbying for nature-sensitive road design