about Roadkill
In this citizen science project, we want to use scientific methods to create an overview in Austria of where which animals are road-killed and what the reasons for this might be. With your reports we aim to identify hotspots and mitigate them together with our partners.
[Picture above: pixapay Lizenz jplenio (https://pixabay.com/de/photos/morgendämmerung-straße-nebel-3208158/) ]
Working together to increase knowledge, protection and understanding Roads play a vital role in shaping our daily lives, both in Austria and worldwide. They connect places, enable mobility, and facilitate the transportation of goods, medical aid, and social interaction. At the same time, roads occupy a significant portion of our landscape and are therefore also part of the habitat of numerous animal species. However, while we humans see roads as paths and connections, many animals see them as something completely different: some use them as migration corridors, while others see them as insurmountable barriers. Vertebrates in particular are at a disadvantage when roads become impassable due to heavy traffic, crash barriers or fences. Some animals avoid roads altogether, while others cross them regardless of traffic. The result is that thousands of animals die on Austria's roads every year. Why does roadkill affect us all? Official figures are only available for huntable game, such as deer, wild boar and badgers. But what about all the others? What about hedgehogs, toads, squirrels, snakes and birds? Currently, there is a lack of data on these species, even though they are just as often, if not more often, killed on the roads. This is…
Working together to increase knowledge, protection and understanding Scientific objectives Establishment of a reliable database to analyse the influence of various factors on roadkill. Identification of the causes and influencing factors that lead to roadkill. Development of models to calculate the probability of roadkill on Austrian roads. Nature conservation objectives Establishing partnerships to translate reported roadkill incidents into concrete conservation measures Conducting scientific studies on endangered vertebrate species that are particularly affected by roadkill Social objectives Raising public awareness of roadkill in Austria Raising awareness of the presence and endangerment of animals on roads Promoting understanding of the habitat needs of animals Communicating the necessity and effectiveness of protective measures in road traffic
Who can participate in the project Roadkill? Anyone can participate in the Roadkill project. The only requirement is registration in the SPOTTERON System at www.roadkill.at (in German) and internet access. A certain knowledge of vertebrate species is an advantage (but not a prerequisite). How can I participate in the project Roadkill? You can participate in the Roadkill project in many ways. You can find an overview in the section Explore. Can I enter my data worldwide? Since 2021, we have focused on Austria for reporting data. If you would like to report roadkills in other countries, you are welcome to contact our colleagues in the respective countries. In our blog, we have compiled a list of countries with roadkill projects known to us. What happens with my data? Your entries in the Roadkill project are displayed in the interactive map (in German) and can be viewed by anyone. The raw data can only be viewed by people with administrative rights and are stored on the servers of the Citizen Science Platform SPOTTERON. Data on reported roadkills are validated and made freely available via GBIF and Zenodo. No commercial goals are pursued with the Roadkill project. Personal data will be kept strictly confidential…
Although the Roadkill project is coordinated at BOKU University, we consider all contributors to be part of our project team. Our citizen scientists are at the forefront of this, as without their data reports, discussions about recorded animal species and suggestions for improving the apps, website and method itself, the project would not be possible. Some of our citizen scientists are also featured on our blog. Florian Heigl Project Coordinator Senior Scientist at the Institute of Zoology, BOKU University, Vienna. Education: Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Sciences; Master's degree in Agricultural Biology; Doctorate in Soil Science. Role: Florian coordinates the project and is responsible for writing all scientific articles and texts for the project website and Instagram channel. Daniel Dörler Project Staff Member Senior Scientist at the Institute of Zoology, BOKU University, Vienna Education: Master's degree in Biology, specialising in Zoology, and Doctorate in Natural Resources and Life Sciences Role: Daniel assists with all aspects of the project, including data analysis and report writing.
