Identification of roadkill hotspots and the factors affecting wombat vehicle collisions using the citizen science tool, WomSAT

Abstract

Roads directly impact wildlife through vehicle collisions. In Australia only a few studies have examined the impact of environmental characteristics on wombat roadkill. We analysed wombat roadkills reported into WomSAT, a website and application where citizen scientists can upload sightings of wombats, to map wombat roadkill across their distribution. We used Maxent software to identify the main factors influencing wombat roadkill hotspots. A total of 2391 wombat deaths on roads were reported by 567 citizen scientists from 2015 to 2019. More wombat roadkill deaths occurred in winter, with most unaffected by sarcoptic mange. The average daily solar exposure, distance to populated areas, precipitation of warmest quarter (bio 18), temperature seasonality (bio 4), and precipitation seasonality (bio 15) were identified as the main factors influencing wombat roadkill. The most roadkills reported per kilometre (3.7/km) occurred on Old Bega Road and Steeple Flat Road, in the New South Wales southern tablelands. Reduced reporting corresponded with a reduced number of citizen scientists continuing to report sightings over time, reflecting the limitations of the data collected by citizen scientists. However, data should continue to be collected by citizen scientists as it is an easy and low-cost method of collecting data over large areas, and can provide information to managers to support conservation efforts directed at reducing roadkill. Our study emphasises the need to continue to engage and reward citizen scientists for their efforts.