FAQs

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 and will not be shared with third parties. Full rights of use are granted to the project for the photos accompanying the entries. When using a photo in the context of the project activity, we always give credit to the author (username or display name).

How should I identify animals?

In the section Profiles you will find a description of each animal species and the typical habitat in which it is often found. 

In general, we recommend identifying animals as far as you feel confident. Feel free to stop at a "rougher" level to report a mammal, for example, if you are not sure if it is a cat or a squirrel.

What if I can't stop and still want to make an entry?

Note or remember the location, time, animal and number of individuals. Enter the data into the database at home or at the nearest stopping point.

Do not enter any spots while you are driving yourself; do not take a photo on unclear road sections; always pay attention to traffic and do not risk anything to enter a new spot! Your safety always comes first!

How long will the project Roadkill last?

Since projects in this subject area can only be successful over several years, there is no project end planned. Analyses, diploma theses etc. will be carried out continuously.

Why are only vertebrates and no insects etc. included?

For the safety of humans, vertebrates on the roads are especially crucial. In addition, vertebrates are usually easier to recognize and identify.

However, it is not impossible that special projects on roadkills involving non-vertebrates will be offered on this page in the future.

Can I remove my entries from the database?

If you want to delete individual entries or your entire record, please write an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Please understand that we do not delete reporting data published via GBIF and Zenodo in these databases. These reports are the basis of research work and must not be changed, because changing the data would lead to changes in the research results.

Of course, if you wish, we will delete all your personal data.

Who can I contact if I have questions about the project?

You can contact us at any time with questions or suggestions by mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Your mail will be processed as soon as possible.