Wild ungulates including deer, bison, elk, and antelope play ecological roles as prey and ecosystem engineers. Managing their populations humanely while enabling coexistence with agriculture and transport requires multi-stakeholder approaches.
Wild ungulates killed in vehicle collisions experience traumatic deaths, while survivors of non-lethal strikes may have severe injuries that are not treated. Hunting as population management, when conducted ethically, can be more humane than starvation during population peaks. However, poorly executed hunts result in wounded animals dying slowly. Contraception programs avoid killing but require repeated interventions. Coexistence infrastructure — wildlife crossings, roadside fencing, warning systems — reduces mortality and injury for both animals and humans.