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Annual and seasonal patterns in wildlife road-kill and their relationship with traffic density

ABSTRACT Hedgehogs (Erinaceous europaeus), rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) were 93.4% of 1390 mammal carcasses counted during 92 trips along a 63.2 km route, 2009–2014, through peri-urban and farmland habitats. Pukeko (Porphyrio melanotus) and swamp harriers (Circus approximans) constituted 29% of the 466 bird road-kill. Comparisons indicate the recovery of hedgehog and rabbit populations from declines to 2005 and 2009, respectively, and the increased suppression of possum populations, consistent with disease and pest control trajectories. Road-kill density was spatially and temporally aggregated. Seasonal peaks reflected species-specific periodicity in breeding and dispersal. Carcass densities varied positively with traffic volume and did not asymptote with increasing traffic up to 25,000 vehicles per day. Kill rates per vehicle were maintained at the highest traffic volumes. Busier roads were not avoided by wildlife and could be substantial demographic sinks and barriers to their spread. We discuss the implications for wildlife management and conservation.