Wildlife

Roadkill Wildlife Welfare and Mitigation

Road vehicle collisions kill billions of wildlife annually worldwide. Infrastructure solutions and driver behavior changes significantly reduce this massive, preventable source of animal suffering.

Key Facts

An estimated 1-2 million large animals and billions of smaller animals die in vehicle collisions annually in the US
Wildlife crossing structures including tunnels and bridges reduce collision mortality by 85-95% at monitored sites
Seasonal roadkill peaks occur during breeding migrations and autumn dispersal of young animals
Roadkill monitoring apps like iNaturalist and Roadkill Observation System help identify high-risk areas for mitigation

Welfare Considerations

Roadkill causes enormous welfare harm through immediate death and injury from vehicle collisions. Animals that survive strikes often die slowly from internal injuries without veterinary intervention. Infrastructure solutions including wildlife crossings, fencing, and warning systems are proven effective at high-collision sites. Driver awareness and reduced speeds in known wildlife areas provide complementary behavioral mitigation that reduces collision frequency.

What You Can Do

Report roadkill to monitoring apps to contribute data identifying high-priority mitigation locations
Reduce driving speed near known wildlife crossing areas especially at dusk and dawn
Support funding for wildlife crossing infrastructure in transportation planning processes
Contact wildlife rehabilitators immediately when finding injured animals that survived vehicle strikes