Wildlife Road Fatalities Project
It is estimated that one million animals die every day in vehicle/animal collisions.
Although there are only 900 reported vehicle/wildlife animal collisions in New Mexico each year, thousands of other animals (such as birds, amphibians), domestic animals (cats and dogs), and farm animals are killed on New Mexico streets and roads. This results in a driver safety issue which has an economic impact to the citizens of New Mexico, as well as the further deterioration of endangered wildlife populations and their environments. There is currently little standardization in data collection for animal fatalities on roads in the United States.
The ATR Institute researched and designed a Web-based standardized collection form for NMDOT, State Police, Department of Public Safety, road maintenance crews, and the public to use to report dead animals. The results of the pilot project will serve as a model for other regions of the United States interested in increasing the validity and value of animal road mortality information. The final data collection product and GIS reports will help the State of New Mexico, as well as public groups and other interested parties, know where the animal road mortality “hotspots” exist. This information can assist transportation planners, legislators, and environmental groups to enable funding for appropriate accident reduction techniques
A project Website was published in mid-2005, containing
searchable bibliographies, graphics, news and links. A final
report to the New Mexico Department of Transportation Research Bureau
was submitted in 2006.