Wildlife Road Crossing Infrastructure

Roads fragment habitats and kill millions of wild animals annually. Purpose-built crossing structures dramatically reduce wildlife mortality and reconnect populations.

Key Facts

An estimated one million vertebrates are killed on roads every day worldwide
Wildlife crossing infrastructure includes overpasses, underpasses, culverts and fencing
Banff National Park in Canada saw a 96% reduction in large mammal road deaths after crossings
Crossing use varies by species: large mammals prefer wide overpasses, amphibians use tunnels
Connectivity corridors supported by crossings reduce inbreeding in isolated populations
Cost-benefit analyses consistently show crossings save money by reducing collision damages

Welfare Considerations

Road mortality causes immense individual suffering: animals struck by vehicles may die slowly from injuries, and juveniles become orphaned when parents are killed. Beyond mortality, roads create population fragmentation that reduces genetic diversity and resilience. Wildlife crossings address both direct and indirect welfare harms. Effective crossing design requires species-specific guidance — a structure suitable for deer may be useless for hedgehogs. Citizen science road kill monitoring helps identify priority locations for new infrastructure investment.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for wildlife crossing funding on major highways and motorways
Slow down when driving at dawn, dusk and night when animals are most active
Report wildlife road kills to national monitoring databases
Advocate for wildlife-friendly road design standards in planning regulations
Install garden fencing that allows hedgehog passage rather than blocking movement