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Ecology, management and conservation in natural and modified habitats
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 35(7)

Distribution and abundance of roadkill on Tasmanian highways: human management options

Alistair J. Hobday A B D and Melinda L. Minstrell C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Zoology, Private Bag 5, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.

B CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, GPO Box 1535, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.

C Department of Rural Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: alistair.hobday@csiro.au

Wildlife Research 35(7) 712-726 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR08067
Submitted: 9 May 2008  Accepted: 26 September 2008   Published: 17 November 2008

Abstract

An obvious sign of potential human impact on animal populations is roadkill. In Tasmania, this impact is perceived as relatively greater than in other Australian states, and is often noted by visitors and locals alike, such that calls for management action are common in the popular press. The goal of this three-year study was to assess the frequency and distribution of species killed on Tasmanian roads. Seasonal surveys were completed along five major routes, for a total of 154 trips. Over 15 000 km of road were surveyed and 5691 individuals in 54 taxa were recorded for an average roadkill density of 0.372 km−1. Over 50% of encountered roadkill could be identified to species, with common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) and Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii) the most common species identified, both in overall numbers and frequency of trips encountered. The 10 most common taxa accounted for 99% of the items observed. The seasonal occurrence, relationship with vehicle speed, and clustering in local hotspots for particular taxa all suggest that mitigation measures, such as vehicle speed reduction in specific areas, may be effective in reducing the number of animals killed. Mitigation measures, however, will not apply equally to all species and, in particular, success will depend on changing human behaviours.

Additional keywords: hotspots, vehicle speed, road mortality, traffic safety.


Acknowledgements

We appreciate the contribution of the following people for assisting with data recording: Alastair Walsh, Dan Ricard, Peter Hobday, Simon Talbot, Bruce Deagle, Scott Ling, Adam Stephens, Paige Eveson, George Watters, Brian Cox, Liesel Fitzgerald, Sarah Metcalf, and Cam Jones. Supplementary data were provided by Doug Ling (RACT) and Greg Hocking (Department of Primary Industries and Water), and we are grateful to them. Suggestions and comments from Zoe Magnus, Greg Hocking and Nick Mooney improved the discussion and implications identified in this paper. Reviews by associate editor Andrea Taylor and two anonymous referees helped improve the focus of this paper considerably, and are gratefully appreciated.


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