UK Wildlife

Road Traffic and Wildlife Mortality

Road traffic kills vast numbers of wildlife annually in the UK, with hedgehogs, badgers, otters, barn owls, and deer among the most heavily impacted species.

Key Facts

UK road network kills an estimated millions of wildlife annually
Hedgehogs face significant road mortality contributing to population decline
Barn owls hunting over road verges are frequently killed by passing vehicles
Badger and otter mortality on roads affects local population viability
Wildlife crossing structures (green bridges, tunnels) significantly reduce road mortality

Welfare Considerations

Road traffic wildlife mortality causes individual suffering and population-level conservation impacts. Infrastructure solutions including wildlife crossing structures, modified culverts, and road verge management reduce mortality. Driver behaviour including reduced speed near wildlife habitats also matters.

What You Can Do

Reduce speed in areas with known wildlife crossing activity particularly at dawn and dusk
Support Highways England and wildlife trust campaigns for wildlife crossing infrastructure
Report road casualties to county recorders to contribute to mortality monitoring