Each year, thousands of native animals are killed or injured on Victoria’s roads.
Last year, over a six-week period in the December 2024-January 2025 school holidays, Wildlife Victoria responded to 2111 reports of wildlife injured or killed by vehicles.
Of those reports, over 50 per cent were eastern grey kangaroos.
Wildlife hit by vehicles is one of the key reasons for calls to Wildlife Victoria.
Wildlife road strike cases have increased by 288 per cent across the past 10 years, with a persistent and ongoing increase across the past five years.
As Victorians hit the roads this holiday period, Wildlife Victoria shares some simple tips for keeping ourselves, and our wildlife, safe.
- Slow down: Studies from the Centre for Automotive Safety Research conducted by the University of Adelaide have shown that a reduction in speed of just 10 per cent has the potential to reduce vehicle crashes by 20 per cent.
- Avoid driving at dusk and dawn: Native animals are most active at these times, as well as throughout the night.
- If you do hit an animal: when safe to do so, drivers should pull over and call Wildlife Victoria’s Emergency Response Service on 03 8400 7300.
The wildlife emergency response operator will advise the motorist on the next steps, which may include asking the driver to identify if the animal has a pouch.
This is important information, as particularly at this time of year, many of our kangaroos have pouch-young.
Pouch joeys can survive for several days after their mother has passed so it is incredibly important for pouches to be checked as soon as possible.
Wildlife Victoria emergency response operators can advise callers on how to perform a pouch check safely, or dispatch wildlife rescuers in the field to check pouches whenever necessary.
Wildlife Victoria is currently fundraising to continue its 24/7 service, operating 365 days a year.
Donations will reduce first response times to wildlife emergencies, and fill a critical gap in round-the-clock wildlife treatment.
Donations can be made at wildlifevictoria.org.au/donate
