When a driver hits a 600-pound moose, Utah authorities usually hear about it. On the other hand, a collision with a small canyon tree frog will probably go unnoticed.
“When humans hit these small animals, it usually doesn’t cause much damage to the vehicle,” said Blair Stringham, migration initiatives coordinator for the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources. “There is less risk to public safety.”
As a result, the state missed data on the behavior of small animals and the dangers they face, he said. But with a little help from Utahns and their smartphones, things are starting to change.
A year ago, the state launched the Roadkill Reporter app, which invites people to submit information about carcasses found on Utah roads. He said these reports provide valuable information on a wide variety of species for which the state previously did not have data, from snowshoe hares to red foxes to small frogs.
“This was a real eye-opener for us,” Stringham said. “We’re going to start getting a lot of useful information about badgers, porcupines, and these non-traditional species that we haven’t really looked at before.”
Without data, the state may never know how big an impact vehicle collisions have on mortality rates for those species, he said.
As more app users become the state’s eyes and ears on Utah’s highways, their reports will help biologists better understand animal migration routes and inform decision-making about how to prevent collisions. may be provided.
“We’re not everywhere all the time,” he said. “So this is a really good way for us to get a better idea of how many animals are actually affected each year.”
Users reported 3,843 dead animals in the first year. The vast majority involve deer and are likely just the tip of the iceberg. It is estimated that approximately 10,000 deer are killed each year in Utah. There were also 157 elk deaths and multiple reports of black bears, turkeys, cougars, bighorn sheep, and coyotes.
Matt Howard, director of natural resources for the Utah Department of Transportation, said the sooner state officials learn of a traffic crash, the sooner they can clear it. This helps prevent future vehicle collisions with scavengers such as eagles, which may be struck while feeding on carcasses on the road.
When states combine carcass data with information from traffic accident reports and tracking collars on migrating animals, they can pinpoint hot spots.
“We’re trying to identify where these three data sources line up,” Howard said, which will help determine where to add wildlife crossings. It also helps enable more projects. He said hard numbers would strengthen the state’s case when applying for federal funds.
The first year’s dataset is already producing results. Howard said this helped the state install fences and underpasses along Route 89 east of Kanab, and his more than $5 million to safely move deer from one side of the highway to the other. He said he was able to secure federal funding for the project.
He said wildlife crossings not only prevent collisions, but also greatly expand the range in which animals can safely find habitat. Howard said the app will bring more data to help the state better understand how drivers and animals in the state can coexist.
“By opening it up to other people who have different goals and motivations when it comes to wildlife conflicts, we will be able to collect a more diverse range of wildlife species.”