Roadkill Reduction: Saving Wildlife on Roads

Millions of animals are killed on roads every year, making vehicle collisions one of the largest direct human causes of wildlife mortality globally.

Key Facts

Road mortality is estimated to kill over one million vertebrates per day in the United States alone across all species
Large mammals including deer, badgers, otters, and hedgehogs suffer high roadkill rates; hedgehog populations in the UK have declined partly due to road mortality
Wildlife underpasses and overpasses significantly reduce roadkill when combined with drift fencing that guides animals toward crossing structures
Seasonal migration periods create predictable hotspots where targeted speed reductions or temporary road closures can save many lives
Citizen science roadkill recording projects help identify high-mortality sites to prioritise for mitigation measures

Welfare Considerations

Road death is rarely instant — animals struck by vehicles frequently suffer severe injuries before dying from blood loss, shock, or exposure. Juveniles dispersing from birth territories face the highest mortality risk. Roadkill also fragments populations, reducing genetic diversity and preventing range recovery. Mitigation through infrastructure design can dramatically reduce both mortality and suffering with proven, cost-effective engineering solutions.

What You Can Do

Report roadkill to citizen science databases to help identify high-mortality hotspots
Advocate for wildlife crossing infrastructure in new road construction and highway upgrade projects
Reduce driving speed at dawn and dusk when wildlife movement peaks
Support organisations working on road ecology and wildlife corridor connectivity
Push for environmental impact assessments to include roadkill mortality projections for new roads