Exploring Spatial and Temporal Trends in Roadkill to Improve and Propose Mitigation Structures

Student Researcher (2024)

Sofia Politte, Major: Integrative Conservation

Student Researcher (2024)

Cayley Santella, Major: Integrative Conservation

Student Researcher (2023)

Alexa Busby, Major: Biology; Major: Environmental Science

Faculty Mentors

Dr. John Swaddle

Project Description

Working with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), W&M students are identifying priority areas in Loundon County Virginia where animal-vehicle collisions can be feasibly and effectively mitigated.

Nearly 2 million animal-vehicle collisions occur every year in the U.S. These collisions kill and injure wildlife and humans. Annually animal-vehicle collisions cause approximately 200 human deaths, 26,000 injuries, at least $8 billion in property damage and pose significant threats to wildlife movement and population dynamics (Pew Charitable Trust).

With the rapid land development in northern Virginia, there is an urgent need to mitigate animal-vehicle collisions to promote road safety, especially near wildlife corridors, areas where wildlife range and migrate.

Virginia's Department of Wildlife Resources has created a Wildlife Corridor Action Plan in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Department of Forestry, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation. To ensure that this Action Plan is effective in meeting safety and conservation goals, more information is needed on where collisions are occurring and where mitigation efforts may be feasible across Virginia.

In 2023, W&M student Alexa Busby mapped priority areas for mitigation utilizing collision data and metrics for mitigation success across Loudon County. Alexa also worked with Virginia's  Volunteer Master Naturalists to explore how citizen scientists can support efforts to monitor mitigation efforts.

In 2024, W&M students Sofia Politte and Cayley Santella the identified partners involved in mitigation efforts, factors that make mitigation effective at proposed priority sites (using camera traps), and the strategies for successful implementation of mitigation structures. They also further explored ways in which citizen science can support mitigation efforts.

In 2025 W&M students will test products developed in Loudoun County and apply them to DWR identified high priority areas across the state. The students will continue the use of camera trap monitoring as a tool to "ground truth" habitat values and guidelines statewide, and they will develop a roadkill observational app for use statewide.

Project ID - Format

23-013-23 - CRP Year

23-013-24 - CRP Year

23-013-25 - CRP Year