Roadkill surveys

Why we do roadkill surveys

One of the best things about doing roadkill surveys is watching the sunrise, and the sunset. During the monsoons, the sun breaks across the eastern horizon and lights up the moisture laden air and morning cloud cover with light and throws the foothills into brilliant color. The sun feels hopeful, and the day feels new. The second-best thing is knowing that every datapoint is helping us make things better.

Although documenting roadkill is not for the faint of heart, the data it provides is valuable. We need to know where wildlife cross the road so that we can reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and protect healthy wildlife populations. Crash reports provide some information, but fall short of showing the whole picture.

Roadkill surveys help us identify hotpots where wildlife crossings are needed and will be the most effective. Wildlife bridges and underpasses not only reduce vehicle crashes, but they also allow animals to move between open spaces to find mates and new home ranges, which wildlife populations need to be strong and healthy. Wildlife crossings are a win-win solution for everyone. Roadkill surveys before and after a project also serve to show that these wildlife crossings projects are working!

Bobcat exiting a culvert under 1-10 near Cienega Creek. Photo by Raynor Van Deven.

Fun Fact: Most desert animals are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at sunrise and sunset – it helps to beat the heat!

The Wildlife Road Watch Project

Great horned owl lies dead on the road in the foreground, with an oncoming card with headlights on in the background in the soft evening light.
Great horned owl road mortality (c) AZGFD

The Sonoran Desert Wildlife Road Watch Study is the continuation of a long term monitoring project created by Dr. Brian Blais in 2018 (read the first published paper here).

Desert Roadies volunteers complete evening driving surveys April through November. Surveys occur twice a month for a total of 14 surveys each year. These survey dates are flexible, but must occur at least 7 days apart, and begin at least 30 minutes after sunset. A Team consists of a driver (Lead Observer) and a front passenger (Data Recorder). Lead Observers must be able to drive their own vehicle and be comfortable driving at night on roads at speeds of no more than 30 mph.

Survey routes for this season occur near Ironwood National Monument, Saguaro National Park West/Picture Rocks, Picacho Peak/Oro Valley, and Saguaro National Park East/ Colossal Cave.

Do-It-Yourself surveys on the iNaturalist App

We want to know when you see animals on the road, dead or alive!

Start by first joining the CSDP Safe Passages and Roadkill of the Sonoran Desert projects on iNaturalist.org (online or in the app). Then share what you see, with the WHAT, WHERE, and WHEN. Upload observations whenever you see them, or create your own survey route to check reguarly. Using the app, you can record a photo with the date, time, and location all in one step.

Learn how in the webinar below:

Download PDF Instructions HereDownload

We are particularly interested in these priority areas but welcome observations from everywhere in Pima County:

Javelina Skull near the Oracle Road underpass.
A javelina mother and her twins cross the road.