Wildlife Corridor Planning: Reducing Road Kill and Habitat Fragmentation

Road networks fragment wildlife habitat and cause millions of animal deaths annually. Wildlife corridor planning and crossing infrastructure can dramatically reduce this welfare harm.

Key Facts

UK roads kill an estimated 50,000 mammals, 10 million birds, and millions of other animals annually
Badger, hedgehog, and deer are among the species most affected by road mortality
Wildlife underpasses and green bridges reduce road kill where appropriately located
The A9 in Scotland has wildlife crossing infrastructure protecting deer and small mammals
Habitat fragmentation from roads reduces genetic diversity and population resilience
New road building in the UK is legally required to consider ecological connectivity

Welfare Considerations

Road mortality causes acute trauma and death - injuries from vehicle strike frequently involve severe internal damage, fractures, and prolonged suffering before death. Injured survivors unable to return to habitat die from secondary causes. Green infrastructure including underpasses, overpasses, and drift fencing represents an engineering solution to a welfare problem that affects millions of animals annually.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for wildlife crossings on high-mortality road sections
Report road kill incidents to Project Splatter to build evidence for crossing locations
Drive carefully in dawn and dusk periods when wildlife road crossing is highest