Wildlife

Wildlife Welfare and Road Mortality

Roads cause the deaths of millions of wild animals annually in the UK, representing one of the largest preventable causes of wildlife mortality.

Key Facts

An estimated 100,000 hedgehogs are killed on UK roads each year
Badgers, deer, otters, owls, and reptiles are all significantly impacted by road mortality
Wildlife crossing structures including tunnels and bridges can reduce road deaths by over 70%
Seasonal road closures during peak migration periods protect amphibians effectively
Road ecology is a growing conservation science identifying mortality hotspots

Welfare Considerations

Road mortality causes acute suffering at the moment of collision and chronic population-level harm. Mitigation infrastructure and speed reductions represent high-impact welfare interventions for multiple species.

What You Can Do

Slow down on rural roads, especially at dawn, dusk, and in autumn and spring
Report road kill records to national surveys to build population data
Advocate for wildlife crossing infrastructure on new road developments
Support toad and amphibian patrol groups during spring migration
Join campaigns for wildlife-sensitive road design at the local and national level