Wildlife

Wildlife Road Mortality: Scale and Solutions

Roads kill billions of animals annually worldwide, representing one of the largest direct human causes of wildlife mortality.

Key Facts

An estimated 1 billion vertebrate animals are killed on US roads each year
Road mortality is a leading cause of death for many turtle, amphibian, and mammal species
Wildlife crossing structures reduce road mortality by up to 97%
Roads fragment habitat and prevent gene flow between isolated populations
Insects are killed in enormous numbers by vehicles, contributing to the windscreen phenomenon

Welfare Considerations

Road-killed animals typically suffer acute traumatic injury, often including multiple fractures, organ damage, and prolonged death. Surviving animals with injuries may face starvation, exposure, and predation. Secondary mortality occurs when scavengers attracted to roadkill are themselves struck. The cumulative welfare and conservation impact of road mortality is enormous but chronically underestimated.

What You Can Do

Support funding for wildlife crossing structures at known migration corridors
Slow down during crepuscular hours when wildlife movement peaks
Rescue injured wildlife from roads and contact local rehabilitation centers
Advocate for mandatory wildlife crossing assessments in new road infrastructure