Roadkill

Roadkill is an animal or animals that have been struck and killed by motor vehicles on highways. It has increasingly become the topic of academic research to understand the causes, and how it can be mitigated. Some roadkill can also be eaten. Roadkill is an animal or animals that have been struck and killed by motor vehicles on highways. It has increasingly become the topic of academic research to understand the causes, and how it can be mitigated. Some roadkill can also be eaten. Essentially non-existant before the advent of mechanized transport, roadkill is associated with increasing automobile speed in the early century. A contemporary observer, naturalist Joseph Grinnell, noted in 1920 that 'This is a relatively new source of fatality; and if one were to estimate the entire mileage of such roads in the state , the mortality must mount into the hundreds and perhaps thousands every 24 hours.' In Europe and North America, deer are the animal most likely to cause vehicle damage. In Australia, specific actions taken to protect against the variety of animals that can damage vehicles – such as bullbars (usually known in Australia as 'roo bars', in reference to kangaroos) – indicate the Australian experience has some unique features with road kill. The development of roads affects wildlife by altering and isolating habitat and populations, deterring the movement of wildlife, and resulting in extensive wildlife mortality. One writer states that 'our insulated industrialized culture keeps us disconnected from life beyond our windshields.' Driving 'mindlessly' without paying attention to the movements of others in the vehicle's path, driving at speeds that do not allow stopping, and distractions contribute to the death toll. Moreover, a culture of indifference and hopelessness is created if people learn to ignore lifeless bodies on roads. A study in Ontario, Canada in 1996 found many reptile killed on portions of the road where vehicle tires do not usually pass over, which led to the inference that some drivers intentionally run over reptiles.:138 To verify this hypothesis, research in 2007 found that 2.7% of drivers intentionally hit reptile decoys masquerading as snakes and turtles. 'Indeed, several drivers were observed speeding up and positioning their vehicles to hit the reptiles'.:142 Male drivers hit the reptile decoys more often than female drivers.:140–141 On a more compassionate note, 3.4% of male drivers and 3% of female drivers stopped to rescue the reptile decoys.:140 On roadways where rumble strips are installed to provide a tactile vibration alerting drivers when drifting from their lane, the rumble strips may accumulate road salt in regions where it is used. The excess salt can accumulate and attract both small and large wildlife in search of salt licks; these animals are at great risk of becoming roadkill or causing accidents. Very large numbers of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates are killed on the world's roads every day. The number of animals killed in the United States has been estimated at a million per day. About 350,000 to 27 million birds are estimated to be killed on European roads each year. Mortality resulting from roadkill can be very significant for species with small populations. Roadkill is estimated to be responsible for 50% of deaths of Florida panthers, and is the largest cause of badger deaths in England. Roadkill is considered to significantly contribute to the population decline of many threatened species, including wolf, koala and eastern quoll. In Tasmania, Australia the most common species affected by roadkill are brushtail possums and Tasmanian pademelons.