The Realities of Roadkill: Challenges and Opportunities for Wildlife Transportation Mitigation

Authors

Rachel Wheat, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Files

Streaming Media

Date

10-24-2025

Description

Transportation infrastructure is critical for our communities and economies, but the roadways we depend on for travel have significant negative impacts on wildlife populations. Roadkill is the most visible consequence, with tens of millions of animals injured or killed on Oregon’s roadways each year. Beyond direct mortality, transportation corridors fragment habitat and can alter wildlife behavior, creating barriers that disrupt wildlife movement and access to critical resources, contributing to population declines. Despite these challenges, opportunities exist for mitigation, including the use of wildlife crossing structures, autonomous animal detection systems, and smarter project siting. This talk will explore the multifaceted challenges transportation infrastructure poses to wildlife populations and highlight successful mitigation strategies. By better integrating ecological principles into transportation planning, we can develop infrastructure that supports both human mobility and wildlife conservation goals.

Biographical Information

Dr. Rachel Wheat is a spatial ecologist who serves as the Wildlife Connectivity Coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Dr. Wheat works statewide to assess wildlife habitat connectivity and coordinate efforts statewide to enhance, protect, and restore habitat critical for facilitating wildlife movement. She is based out of ODFW’s headquarters in Salem, Oregon.

Subjects

Wildlife crossings -- United States, Roads -- Environmental aspects -- United States, Wildlife conservation -- United States, Habitat fragmentation -- United States, Animals -- Effect of roads on -- United States, Wildlife Roadkill -- United States

Disciplines

Transportation | Urban Studies | Urban Studies and Planning

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44249

Recommended Citation

Wheat, Rachel, "The Realities of Roadkill: Challenges and Opportunities for Wildlife Transportation Mitigation" (2025). PSU Transportation Seminars. 266.
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44249