Eighth scientific article: Urban roadkill assessment in Vienna reveals low incidence rates

For the first time, we were able to write a scientific article together with a citizen scientist in the Roadkill project. Susanne Lutter came up with the idea for the question, monitored a route for two years and then supported us in writing the article. A really exciting experience for everyone involved, which we would like to repeat.

Abstract:

An important factor in the decline of global animal diversity is road traffic, where many animals are killed. This study aimed to collect data on vertebrate roadkill in the city of Vienna, Austria, between 2017 and 2022 using three different approaches: citizen science, systematic monitoring by bicycle along a 15 km route, and systematic monitoring on foot along a 3 km route. During 359 monitoring events, only four roadkill incidences (three Erinaceus sp., one Rattus sp.) were found by bicycle or on foot. At the same time citizen scientists reported 1 roadkill squirrel on the bicycle route and 84 roadkill incidences for the entire city area. Hedgehogs and urban birds were commonly reported species by citizen scientists. Although no amphibian or reptile roadkill was found during systematic monitoring, they were reported by citizen scientists. The low number of roadkill incidences found suggests a potentially low population density that makes the impact of roadkill even more severe – a hypothesis that should be further investigated amidst the global decline in biodiversity.

You can find the full-text here: https://we.copernicus.org/articles/24/41/2024/