Wildlife Welfare

Wildlife and Road Networks: Mortality and Habitat Fragmentation

Road traffic kills millions of wild animals annually and fragments habitats, reducing genetic exchange and increasing population vulnerability across many species.

Key Facts

Roads kill an estimated 1.3 million vertebrates per day in the USA alone
Hedgehogs, toads, badgers, otters and deer are among the most road-killed species in the UK
Road fragmentation reduces effective population size by blocking dispersal and gene flow
Wildlife crossings (tunnels, bridges, underpasses) effectively reduce road mortality when properly sited
Toad patrols by volunteers move amphibians across roads during spring migration

Welfare Considerations

Road mortality causes acute, traumatic deaths for millions of animals annually. Animals injured but not killed by vehicles often die slowly from internal injuries or predation. Beyond individual animal welfare, road fragmentation erodes population-level resilience. Infrastructure investment in wildlife crossings and wildlife-sensitive road design offers scalable solutions.

What You Can Do

Support local toad patrol groups during spring migration season
Advocate for wildlife crossings to be included in new road and upgrade projects
Report road-killed wildlife to schemes like Project Splatter to help build evidence
Drive at appropriate speeds through wildlife-rich areas, especially at dawn and dusk