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SALT LAKE CITY — A year ago, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah Department of Transportation launched the Utah Roadkill Reporter app for Utahns to report roadkill incidents to officials.
"It is important for us to understand how many wildlife-vehicle collisions occur in Utah. This new app will allow us to know exactly when and where collisions occur, which will help us identify hot spot areas on Utah highways," said Blair Stringham, migration initiative coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, when the app was released.
When someone submits a roadkill report in the app, it includes the animal species and GPS location of where the accident occurred.
After a year of data and reporting, what does it show and how is the app helping biologists with wildlife migration?
Up to 10,000 deer killed
During the app's first year, 3,843 animals were reported through it. Roughly 98% of the reported animals killed by vehicles were mule deer — a total of 3,611 deer.
"This app is helping us keep Utah roads safe by helping us more quickly remove carcasses that can cause traffic hazards," said Matt Howard, UDOT's natural resource manager, in a release. "In addition, the data collected from the app will help us determine where to potentially place wildlife fencing and crossings, protecting people and wildlife."
However, wildlife officials estimate only about half of deer-vehicle collisions are reported and that closer to 10,000 deer are hit and killed on Utah's roads every year.
Other wildlife species hit and killed by vehicles in Utah reported on the app over the past year include:
- American badger: 1
- Bighorn sheep: 2
- Black bear: 2
- Black-billed magpie: 1
- Bobcat: 1
- Canyon treefrog: 1
- Cougar: 8
- Coyote: 5
- Elk: 157
- Northern raccoon: 17
- Porcupine: 1
- Pronghorn: 22
- Red fox: 3
- Snowshoe hare: 1
- Turkey: 3
Nearly 5,000 collisions reported
Last year, state wildlife officials said they received nearly 5,000 reports of deer collisions in the state, as well as another 166 reported collisions with elk — though those numbers were likely lower than the actual totals, as well.
Stringham said that the data collected through the app is helping the DWR and UDOT learn about new locations where wildlife is being hit, and even identify specific problem areas.
"As we collect more data, we will know more about when and where animals are crossing roads, so we can implement projects based on needs in those areas. Things like wildlife fencing, underpasses, overpasses and signs will result from this important data," Stringham added.
The app is available to download for free from the Google Play store or Apple's App Store.
