Roadkill-a question

[Imaginos]

Driving home last night it occured to me that I see a lot less dead foxes than Badgers by the side of the road. Given that an increasingly popular census method counts the number of roadkill in an area and then predicts the number of mammals from that figure, I thought it would then be reasonable to assume that there are more Badgers than foxes, would this be a reasonable assumption?

Thinking more about it though I decided that there are probably less dead foxes because they are possibly more intelligent/crafty than Badgers and thus more able to learn to avoid cars on the road.

But we can take this line of thought a step further; cars have been on our roads for getting on for 100 years, is this amount of time long enough to weed out those individuals (Fox, Rabbit, Hedgehog, Badger whatever) more genetically disposed to being hit by cars (by favouring open spaces to sit, by being too slow to get out of the way or any other reason you care to make up)?

I'll rephrase the question couched in the above paragraph for more clarity: Is a century long enough for evolution to work on the 'fitness' of car avoidance? And if so, what are the potential consequences?

I almost put 'discuss' at the end of the question, but then it looked like a university exam question so I'll just say I'd be interested in your views.

[Gill Catton]

I think it's probably difficult when you still have the selection pressures that created road unsafe behaviour in the first place - for example a hedeghog would be better off running across a road rather than curling up, but a Hedgehog that runs from danger rather than curling up is more likely to be eaten by a predator.....

Plus then you have the complications of the various types of road. A busy motorway or A road generally has fewer dead animals alongside because the constant activity deters animals from trying to cross (particularly where a crash barrier obscures the view of the other side). Less busy country roads tend to have more deaths presumably because the infrequency of the traffic lulls the animals into a false sense of security - and crucially may allow animals that haven't learnt to aviod traffic to breed for a season or two before being flattened.

Toads that wait in open spaces within safe habitats for a passing female to grab hold of are presumably always going to be more successful in breeding, so toads will always be drawn to open spaces - including roads. Similar problems for basking reptiles.....

[Alan]

As far as I know, hasn’t it been noted that a lot of Hedgehogs now run instead of curling up in a ball when near roads! So this process of natural selection could already be at work!

As far as Badgers go, they do seem to suffer more from the ‘freeze in headlights’ syndrome, and even when special reflectors are put to help them spot when vehicles are approaching, the still often get hit - not as much, but they still do. So I suppose you could say they aren’t as bright as the average Fox!

I would also add to the thread idea by asking the following question:

If an animal is brought into a wildlife rehab hospital after being hit by a car, wouldn’t it be better to put it down rather than re-releasing it to put the ‘runover gene’ back in the gene pool. Thus improving the species road survival?

This could be an over simplistic question, and I know it is controversial, and is not something I would personally support, but it does raise interesting questions about our attitude to animals!

[nightshade]

Could it be there are no survivors to pass on the genes

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Alan

I would also add to the thread idea by asking the following question:

If an animal is brought into a wildlife rehab hospital after being hit by a car, wouldn’t it be better to put it down rather than re-releasing it to put the ‘runover gene’ back in the gene pool. Thus improving the species road survival?

This could be an over simplistic question, and I know it is controversial, and is not something I would personally support, but it does raise interesting questions about our attitude to animals!

The hit animal may then take on road aviodance behaviours that might be copied by subsequent young...

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

The hit animal may then take on road aviodance behaviours that might be copied by subsequent young...

...and the animal that doesn’t get hit in the first place would pass it’s traits on through its genes…

Same difference: natural selection/unnatural selection! Inherited or learned. Bit of both I would assume!

Green Cross Code for animals I say

[nightshade]

If I have headlights on I kill the lights,they seem to stay in front of the car running for the distant darkness otherwise.Nothing it seems not even people can work out the enigma of our servant and nemesis the car

[paulthomas]

I think it may be more about the different behavior of the two species than their relative populations. For a Badger a road will be essentially an obstacle to be crossed but for a Fox it can provide a great feeding opportunity with plenty of carrion and probably a lot of small mammals in the verges. So a Fox might be more inclined to linger on the road, perhaps searching up and down it, and so be more likely to be hit by a vehicle.

[Alan]

Originally Posted by paulthomas

I think it may be more about the different behavior of the two species than their relative populations. For a Badger a road will be essentially an obstacle to be crossed but for a Fox it can provide a great feeding opportunity with plenty of carrion and probably a lot of small mammals in the verges. So a Fox might be more inclined to linger on the road, perhaps searching up and down it, and so be more likely to be hit by a vehicle.

But as imaginos suggested - you often see more dead Badgers on the roads that Foxes!

I think it's because Badgers have a more one tracked mind than a Fox. Badgers seem to trundle along, often oblivious to there surroundings. I've had them pass right by me, but with a Fox they usually spot you a mile off!

As far as roads go, if you follow Badger trails where they cross roads, they often don't continue straight across, but follow-on many yards down a road. Sometimes they seem to use the road as a short cut! Most of the time they just want to stick to there route no matter what. Even if the road on their route is being turned into a motorway, they still try to use it!

I think Foxes, and most of the dog family, are just that much more alert.

[Gill Catton]

Is there a chance that Badgers - with their very thick fur take longer to decay so are more noticed?

Plus they can live in large social groups so it is maybe possible that when you pass one dead Badger there are likely to be more killed purely because of how they live? Foxes tend to live alone or in a breeding pair or small group. So when one Fox gets killed there isn't necessarily more that use the same patch?

Plus Badgers are technically in the same family as the wiley and intelligent Mink aren't they?

[Alan]

Ok from the book: Badgers by Ernest Neal/Chris Cheesman (Poyser 1996):

Half of all Badger mortalities take place on roads, this is about 37,500 animals annually.

It also goes on to state that weather conditions play a major role, especially dry weather when the Badges have to forage further for food, often on unfamiliar ground. Living in larger groups also put more pressure on them in dryer weather.

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Plus Badgers are technically in the same family as the wiley and intelligent Mink aren't they?

Hmm well I would think on average, a member of the dog family is more intelligent than a mustelid. Not sure I'd decribe Mink as particularly intellegent, they just seem all instinct!

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Alan

Hmm well I would think on average, a member of the dog family is more intelligent than a mustelid. Not sure I'd decribe Mink as particularly intellegent, they just seem all instinct!

my friend's labrador is very stupid....
Plus sheep are considered quite stupid by humans and you don't often seem them as road kill even in uplands where they graze freely next to roads

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

my friend's labrador is very stupid....

....would you believe some of the ferrets I used to keep as a kid could be quite crafty

Don't let them sheep fool ya, it's a plan for world domination I tell ya

[Alan]

As far as the original question goes, if the countryside was more stable, ie the layout didn’t change so much, I would think a lot of animals would get used to the same ‘safer’ routes and trails. But when you get major new roads built and ‘improvements’ carried out on a regular bases, the animals just don’t get a chance to adapt. Also the fragmentation of habitats doesn’t help.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Alan

Ok from the book: Badgers by Ernest Neal/Chris Cheesman (Poyser 1996):

Half of all Badger mortalities take place on roads, this is about 37,500 animals annually.

It also goes on to state that weather conditions play a major role, especially dry weather when the Badges have to forage further for food, often on unfamiliar ground. Living in larger groups also put more pressure on them in dryer weather.

all of which may result in more dead Badgers in concentrated areas than foxes but not necessarily because of levels of intelligence maybe?

[Gill Catton]

interesting how crows and rooks seem to have learnt about roads being a source of food. Considering the number of rooks and crows I've seen mooching around on the hard shoulder I've not seen that many dead. They seem to be able to learn the safe areas and that car coming means they need to get out of the way.
Obviously you do still see them dead perhaps actually streered towards though? Maybe there's less evasive driving as unlikely to damage the car. I remember reading about a crow that used the traffic light and the associated predicatble traffic movements to crack nuts for it, only flying down to retrieve the bits when the tlight was on red...

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

all of which may result in more dead Badgers in concentrated areas than foxes but not necessarily because of levels of intelligence maybe?

Maybe but I've never heard a Badger being descibed as crafty, cunning, devious! These terms are usually attributed to Ole Raynard

I just reckon you've got mustelid in your blood Gill, well more than me anyhow

......watch yourself when you cross the road wont ya

I'm just off to the henhouse

[Gill Catton]

more of an old crow I reckon



Hope I don't egret saying that!! he he he

[henrya]

Quote
Plus sheep are considered quite stupid by humans and you don't often seem them as road kill even in uplands where they graze freely next to roads
Endquote

Isn't that because people will slow down for a big thing like a sheep, and if they do hit one it heads straight for the freezer?

henrya

[Gill Catton]

cor would you eat one of those tough old upland sheep?
I don't know, they always seem to be getting out of the way when I drive along roads that they are on, - but you're right I do tend to slow down when I see them...

[Alan]

It's them black and white striped flying sheep you've got to watch out for!

....... humbug I hear you say

[paulthomas]

Originally Posted by Alan

But as imaginos suggested - you often see more dead Badgers on the roads that Foxes!

I seem to see more dead foxes than Badgers

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Imaginos

Driving home last night it occured to me that I see a lot less dead foxes than Badgers by the side of the road.

It is an unpleasant fact that not all the dead Badgers found by the sides of roads are actually traffic victims. The hard shoulder has become the place of choice for the ooooooo(i'm sorry I can't bring myself to call them people) who indulge in Badger baiting to dispose of their cadavers once they have had their "fun"

If you note a sudden increase in dead Badgers in a particular locale it is worth letting your local Badger group and/or RSPCA know. Alternatively if you are not too squeamish you can check it out yourself - make sure you park in a safe place and that you wear gloves as you will be handling dead animals.

An RTA victim will typically have either a broken neck, a crushed chest, or no visible injuries but will have internal bleeding. Baited victims will have dog bites, and will often have been killed by knife wounds to the chest or neck or occasionally gunshot to the head. The difference is quite unmistakable. If you do find a baited victim leave it where it is, take photos, and report it to the rspca, Badger group, and/or the local police WLO.

[matt_xyz]

there was an article all about Badger baiting in this month's BBC Wildlife magazine. It sounds utterly barbaric but is apparently still very common.

It's remarkable the depths that some individuals will sink to.

Matt