Wildlife Welfare in Road Network Expansion

Expanding road networks fragment habitats and kill billions of wild animals annually through vehicle strikes and barrier effects.

Key Facts

An estimated 1 million vertebrates are killed on roads in the US every hour
Road construction through intact habitats fragments populations and disrupts gene flow
Barrier effects force animals to travel longer routes increasing energy expenditure
Wildlife crossing infrastructure reduces collisions by up to 97 percent in studies
Amphibians are disproportionately affected by seasonal road mortality during migration

Welfare Considerations

Road networks represent one of the most pervasive and underrecognized sources of wild animal suffering globally. Vehicle strikes cause traumatic injuries and death for billions of animals annually. Survivors may be separated from mates and resources by road barriers. Injured animals that escape vehicles often die slowly from trauma. Infrastructure solutions — underpasses, overpasses, culverts, and exclusion fencing — dramatically reduce both mortality and barrier effects when properly designed and maintained.

What You Can Do

Advocate for wildlife crossing infrastructure in road development projects
Support organizations that rescue and rehabilitate road-struck wildlife
Drive carefully at dawn and dusk when wildlife movement is highest
Donate to research on effective wildlife crossing design and placement