Cars more deadly to animals than disease

CARS are more lethal than predators or disease for nearly a third of animal populations surveyed across the globe, a study has found.

Researchers warned that the impact of roadkill could result in some mammal populations reaching a “tipping point” where deaths from collisions outnumber birth rates.

They say their study could help mitigate the danger in future road-planning.

Collisions with vehicles on the road were found to be the most common cause of death in 28 per cent of all 150 animals populations studied – ahead of disease, hunting, and predation.

Lauren Moore, the lead researcher of Nottingham Trent University’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, said: “While sometimes the raw numbers of animals killed may appear relatively low, roadkill can, directly and indirectly, contribute to mortality rates outnumbering reproduction rates, making populations vulnerable.”

Of the 83 studies reviewed, two that focused on the UK found that 29 per cent of polecat deaths and 25 per cent of hedgehog deaths were on the road.

The analysis found that in some animal populations, the mortality rate from road collisions was up to 80 per cent.

Species around the world found to be among the most likely to die on the roads included Tasmanian devils, Virginia opossums, San Clemente island foxes, African wild dogs and fox squirrels.

Other species included common genets, western quolls, common wallaroos, grey wolves, grey foxes, American black bears, and pumas.

Ms Moore said: “The effect of roads on wild animal populations are one of the most pressing contemporary conservation issues and with road networks increasing globally we need to urgently address this.

“Quantifying the impact of roadkill in this way is important in order to help influence road planning management and decisions, along with future mitigation work.”