How to avoid hitting wildlife

There are over 900,000 kilometres of roads networking across the Australian landscape, many of which are located through the middle of bushland, forests, and other natural habitats for wildlife.

Not only do our roads create barriers to our native animals’ movement and fragmentation of habitat but they also create great danger for potential injury and death as they try to cross the roads.

In fact, according to the NSW government, millions of native animals are injured and killed in Australia each year when they are struck by vehicles. In Victoria alone, this number is over 100,000.

“Wildlife Victoria receives 110,000 calls each year from the public reporting sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife,” a spokesperson from Wildlife Victoria says.

“Unfortunately, the greatest cause of injury to wildlife is road-related accidents, with thousands of native animals killed or injured on Victoria’s roads per year.”

Data from the organisation has revealed that during the 2021-2022 financial year animals killed or injured across the state almost doubled, with over 9000 native animals hit by cars on Victorian roads. Given this figure is based only on reported incidents, the actual amount is likely much higher.

The data from Wildlife Victoria also shows that animals being hit by vehicles isn’t just a problem for regional and rural drivers, with incidents also regularly occurring within the suburbs of metropolitan Melbourne.

Kangaroos are the most likely to be killed or injured by drivers, with 4896 struck by vehicles in the 2021-22 period, followed by wallabies (606), wombats (390), ringtail possums (278) and magpies (262).

“If a motorist does hit wildlife, when safe to do so, they should pull over and call Wildlife Victoria’s Emergency Response Service on 03 8400 7300. The phone line is staffed by trained wildlife emergency operators 24/7 who will provide expert advice,” a Wildlife Victoria spokesperson explains.

“If the animal is a marsupial, and it’s deceased, they may direct the member of the public to check its pouch for young. In-pouch joeys can survive up to two weeks in their mother’s pouch after she has passed so its vitally important pouches are checked. It might just save a life.”

If the animal is deceased and, on the road, they advise moving it to the side of the road (if safe to do so). By doing this, you are removing the hazard for other drivers and ensuring that other animals will not be injured while feeding on the carcass.

But of course, as they say, prevention is better than cure – and a simple solution, says Wildlife Victoria, is “slow down”.

“Studies have shown that a reduction in speed of just 10 per cent has the potential to reduce vehicle crashes by 20 per cent,” a Wildlife Victoria spokesperson says.

“Where possible, we also encourage motorists to avoid driving at dusk and dawn when native animals are most active.”

The RACV also suggests:

“Swerving can cause you to lose control of your vehicle and potentially come off the road or hit another vehicle or a tree,” says Silvia Morris, Senior Instructor for RACV Drive School.

“If an animal has appeared unexpectedly and you do not have time to stop, brake as hard as you can and then release the brake just before impact to try and prevent the animal coming over the bonnet.”

Some other factors to help prevent hitting wildlife with your vehicle, include: