Wildlife

Raptor Road Mortality and Rehabilitation

Road collisions are a significant welfare and conservation issue for raptors in agricultural and peri-urban landscapes.

Key Facts

Barn owls are among the most road-casualty-prone raptors due to low flight height over roads
Red kites are attracted to road verges for carrion and suffer significant road mortality
Buzzards, kestrels and peregrine falcons are regularly killed on UK roads
Speed reduction measures and road verge management affect raptor mortality rates
Wildlife rehabilitation centres treat hundreds of road-injured raptors annually

Welfare Considerations

Raptors involved in vehicle collisions suffer traumatic injuries including broken wings and internal haemorrhage. Those not killed immediately may suffer for hours before discovery. Rehabilitation success varies by species and injury severity, with some individuals unable to be returned to the wild. Prevention through habitat management away from roads is preferable to rescue.

What You Can Do

Slow down on rural roads where raptors may be hunting road verge prey
Report injured raptors to local wildlife rehabilitators or RSPCA
Support wildlife trusts managing road verges as insect-rich habitat away from road edges
Advocate for wildlife-sensitive road design in new road development plans