28 Nov HAS REDUCED HIGHWAY TRAFFIC IMPACTED ROADKILLS DURING THE PANDEMIC?

We were often asked during the pandemic if animal roadkills decreased during the COVID-19 confinement.

Since traffic on the roads decreased during that period, it would be logical to have fewer wildlife-related accidents. However, the first studies on the subject have just come out and it turns out that the number of collisions with wildlife is about the same.

Roadkills are unfortunately still very present.

One of the hypotheses raised is that animals, faced with a less busy road, are less fearful and cross more often, causing as many or perhaps even more mortalities.

Given these data, it is obvious that the solution remains the installation of structures allowing the safe passage of wildlife: green bridges, oversized culverts, wildlife shelves in culverts, all coupled with directional fences.

Simulation of a wildlife crossing over Highway 10.

To learn more, here is a link to one of the published articles: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-99233-9