Comparison of road kills in peri-urban and regional areas of New South Wales (Australia) and factors influencing deaths

Road kills were counted in peri-urban Sydney and in regional New South Wales on roads with different volumes of traffic. Initial studies were conducted in late winter. Approximately equal numbers of birds and mammals were observed dead, while herpetofauna were absent. Most species killed were native, however, the species impacted and frequency of mortality events differed across regions of New South Wales. Higher numbers were killed on medium traffic volume roads (eg. major secondary roads, minor highways) than on low volume local traffic roads or major highways. Roads with verges that were slashed had more deaths than stretches that had vegetated verges. Overall, more deaths were recorded on roads with a physical barrier (eg. fence, cutting) on one side of the road than in areas where there was no such barrier. More deaths were observed in rural areas than in peri-urban areas. Our results confirm that there is no one 'quick fix' that will overcome the generic problem of roadkills. Regional solutions that identify and address the main species adversely affected by collision mortality are required.