Road-Kills of Macropds on a Section of Highway in Central Victoria

Abstract

A 20-km section of highway near Heathcote in Central Victoria was surveyed for road-killed macropods over 5 years. Road-kills of seven swamp wallabies, Wallabia bicolor, and 37 eastern grey kangaroos, Macropus giganteus, were recorded. Kills of grey kangaroos peaked in the autumn of two years. The majority of kills were of adult males, indicating that motor vehicles act as a selective mortality factor. Most road-kills also occurred around the time of full moon, suggesting that kangaroos are more mobile during that phase. The highest incidence of kills per kilometre was recorded between an area of woodland on one side of the road and farmland on the other. Kangaroo warning signs were erected during the study, but were not effective in reducing the incidence of road-kills.