A Review of Wildlife–Vehicle Collisions: A Multidisciplinary Path to Sustainable Transportation and Wildlife Protection

Linas Balčiauskas, Andrius Kučas and Laima Balčiauskienė ()
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Linas Balčiauskas: State Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
Andrius Kučas: State Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
Laima Balčiauskienė: State Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-31

Abstract: This review synthesizes historical and contemporary research on wildlife–vehicle collisions and roadkill, outlining its evolution from early documentation to modern road ecology. It discusses how early efforts in North America and Europe that quantified animal casualties and developed standardized methodologies formed current studies that use advanced geospatial tools, citizen science, and artificial intelligence to analyze spatiotemporal patterns. We examine key ecological, methodological, and economic impacts of roadkill on wildlife populations and human safety, highlighting the role of road density, vehicle speed, and seasonal factors. The framework presented also underscores a commitment to sustainability by integrating environmental conservation with infrastructural development and socio-economic resilience. The review details various mitigation strategies, from fencing and wildlife crossings to dynamic signage, and evaluates their effectiveness in reducing mortality rates, thereby supporting sustainable development in transportation infrastructure and wildlife management. It also identifies research gaps and outlines future directions, advocating for integrated, multidisciplinary approaches to improve wildlife conservation, infrastructure planning, and public awareness in the context of rapidly expanding road networks.

Keywords: wildlife–vehicle collisions; roadkill mitigation; gap analysis; infrastructure and road safety; road ecology; environmental conservation; sustainable development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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