Road Ecology Center Content

Report: Roadkill a ‘Preventable Natural Disaster’

Katherine E Kerlin — June 18, 2024 - 9:00am

More than 48,000 deer, thousands of newts, nearly 100 mountain lions and thousands of other animals are killed each year on California roads, according to the 2024 “roadkill report” from 51�ԹϺ�� Davis.

City and Highway Lights Threaten Mountain Lion Habitats

Katherine E Kerlin — November 06, 2023 - 9:00am

Artificial light pollution at night threatens mountain lion habitat, making it a factor to consider for wildlife crossings and land use, finds 51�ԹϺ�� Davis study.

California Roadkill Data Shows Decline of Mule Deer, Coyote

Emily C Dooley — September 25, 2023 - 9:00am

The number of mule deer, coyote and other wildlife getting hit by vehicles on California’s roadways is falling, signaling a decline in some key animal populations in the state, according to an annual report from the Road Ecology Center at University of California, Davis.

Mountain Lion Mortality Maps Show Rough Road for Cougars

Katherine E Kerlin — February 02, 2023 - 9:00am

51�ԹϺ�� Davis Road Ecology Center releases maps of mountain lion mortality in California ahead of beloved lion P-22's Celebration of Life event in Griffith Park.

Annual ‘Roadkill’ Report Identifies Hot Spots and Paths Forward

Katherine E Kerlin — November 10, 2021 - 10:00am

In the past five years, collisions between wildlife and vehicles cost California at least $1 billion and potentially up to $2 billion, according to estimates in an annual report by the Road Ecology Center at the University of California, Davis.

Roadkill Declines as COVID-19 Continues

Katherine E Kerlin — June 25, 2020 - 1:50pm

Fewer wild animals, including threatened mountain lions, are becoming roadkill during shelter-in-place orders, finds a study on three states from the University of California, Davis.

Using traffic and collision data collected from California, Idaho and Maine, the researchers found that wildlife-vehicle conflict has declined by 21 percent to 56 percent from early March to mid-April, following government stay-at-home orders.

As Americans Shelter in Place, Traffic, Emissions and Fuel-Tax Revenues Decline Dramatically

Katherine E Kerlin — May 01, 2020 - 12:54pm

Americans drove drastically less, saved millions of metric tons of greenhouse gases, and, in some states, lost millions in fuel-tax revenue since COVID-19 mitigation efforts took effect in early March. That is according to the latest special report from the Road Ecology Center at the University of California, Davis.

California COVID-19 Traffic Report Finds Silver Lining

Katherine E Kerlin — April 16, 2020 - 8:29am

Traffic accidents and crash-related injuries and deaths were reduced by half during the first three weeks of California’s shelter-in-place order, which began March 20. The reductions save the state an estimated $40 million per day — about $1 billion over the time period — according to an updated special report released this week from the Road Ecology Center at the University of California, Davis.

California Roadkill Report Maps Costs, Hot Spots and Solutions

Katherine E Kerlin — August 07, 2019 - 9:34am

California drivers lost about $232 million to costs associated with wildlife-vehicle conflicts in 2018 and over $1 billion since 2015, according to the sixth annual Wildlife Vehicle Conflict report from the Road Ecology Center at the University of California, Davis.

Wildlife vs. Vehicle Costs Top $225 Million Annually in California

Patricia Bailey — September 26, 2016 - 9:14am

Collisions involving vehicles and wildlife cost California more than $225 million annually, according to data from a 2016 report from the 51�ԹϺ�� Davis Road Ecology Center.