Data on Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions
The importance of WVC data
Wildlife-vehicle collision (WVC) data are critical to helping researchers and practitioners formulate new approaches to road safety, wildlife management, road design, public education, and environmental impact to name just a few issue areas. To be usable, data should be accurate, detailed, robust, sufficiently broad, and consistently collected. Without quality data, it is difficult to identify problems and solutions to reduce WVCs. For instance, accurate data can help determine the impact of transportation systems on wildlife habitat, where to build a road, or what type of mitigation measures would be most effective.
Several organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and government agencies collect data on wildlife-vehicle collisions. However, the way in which data are gathered and communicated can vary widely across these groups. Hence it is important to recognize the advantages and potential limitations of these different data sources. This page provides a brief background about the benefits and limitations of existing WVC data, the need for more and better collection of WVC data, and current sources of WVC data.
Benefits and limitations of WVC data
The type of data gathered concerning wildlife-vehicle collisions is diverse. Organizations, agencies, or businesses may collect various information such as the species of wildlife involved in collisions, the location (spatial), time of day or season (temporal), the extent of damage to vehicles, the presence of mitigation measures, and any related injuries or fatalities to people among various other types of information. However, not all groups collect the same information nor collect it in the same manner. For instance, law enforcement may collect information related to location and injuries to people at the scene of a collision while conservation groups may collect species type and seasonal information about carcasses days after a collision. Even agencies with similar mandates and roles across Canada, such as law enforcement, may collect different data and use different recording and collection methods depending on the jurisdiction. To illustrate, police in one location who respond to a collision may record GPS coordinates and animal species through an electronic device as part of their collision report, while police in another location may estimate the location of a collision based on the nearest kilometer marker, only record that an animal was hit and not the species type, and may use a paper collision report form. For these reasons, data sources may be limited by the information that is available or the data may be difficult to compare across different jurisdictions.
The method of data collection also may differ, particularly depending on who collects data. Data can be gathered via professionals or through citizen-science strategies. Individuals with formal training in collecting information, such as research scientists or law enforcement officers, fall under professional data collection. Access to data gathered through this method is usually only available to other professionals or agencies and is often contingent upon the signing of an agreement between the custodian of the data and the user. In contrast, citizen-science data collection is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “the collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by members of the general public, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists” (Oxford Dictionaries). Citizen-science data may be analyzed by citizens and professionals.
Both professional and citizen-science data collection have many benefits. Data gathered by research professionals, for example, often must meet specific study design requirements such as gathering observations for clearly defined events (e.g., deer usage of animal over passes from November to April) or obtaining data not accessible to the public (e.g., injuries and fatalities to people involved in collisions). Data gathered under these rigorous and controlled methods or gathered from specific sources typically increases the precision and reliability of analyses and results.
Data gathered by citizen-scientists are usually collected and submitted voluntarily by the public. Information may be collected through online questionnaires, mobile device applications, or paper/fax submissions. Using volunteers provides multiple means of reporting and enables organizations and agencies to gather larger amounts of data at little to no cost. This method is particularly useful when attempting to gather field-based information that spans great distances and/or time periods, or requires observations of unpredictable events.
There are also important limitations associated with both methods of data collection. Although widely used, data gathered by some professionals, such as law enforcement or highway maintenance contractors, are not required to meet precise scientific methods and thus their data may not be rigorously collected or accurate. Other professionals, such as researchers, are often limited by time, location, or funding in order to collect wide-ranging information or they simply may not be present when an incident occurs. On the other hand, people who collect citizen-science data may not be trained properly in standard data collection methods and may report inaccurate information. Although this last issue is a potential risk, most questionnaires ask for specific information and, when the public is provided with proper training to collect evidence, they often gather data similarly to professionals. Together, citizen-science data collection and professional data collection can help fill gaps in knowledge and research concerning WVCs.
Availability and accuracy of WVC data
Access to either raw (original) or processed (manipulated) data is dependent upon the owner of the data. Some groups may make their raw or processed data available to the public while others may make it available contingent upon the signing of an agreement for its use.
In terms of WVCs, one of the most commonly used sources of data that incorporates large geographic areas is data from police-reported motor vehicle collisions. Almost all jurisdictions across Canada report animal involvement on police collision forms, which are entered into a provincial or territorial database. This data, however, can vary where some agencies may only report that an animal was involved while other agencies may report species type and other animal-related details. Transport Canada collects these data from provinces and territories as well as from provincial insurance agencies to produce annual national statistics. However, due to variations in reporting from the different jurisdictions, Transport Canada generalizes some information such as classifying both wild and domestic animals as simply an ‘animal’ collision.
In general, wildlife-vehicle collisions tend to be under-reported for several reasons:
- first, drivers often do not report collisions with animals (particularly for smaller or less serious incidents);
- second, carcasses may be removed and consumed by people and/or predators; and,
- third, injured animals may move away from the road to die elsewhere.
In contrast, some instances of over-reporting can occur through insurance claims, such as drivers who may claim a collision was a result of an animal instead of due to other causes, or when multiple observers to a collision report the same incident to a citizen-science database. Although much less common in comparison to under-reporting, over-reporting sometimes occurs thus adding to some of the complications in accurate WVC data.
The need for more and better WVC data collection
Despite the difficulty of collecting WVC data, there are many ways it can be improved. Groups, agencies, businesses, and interested others can work together to establish standardized data collection methods in a given locale. This would improve comparisons and allow for broader analyses. New technologies such as applications for mobile devices can be used to make data capture easier, more accurate, and timely among citizens and professionals. Refer to the Mobile Device Apps table below for a list of some apps that have been launched or are under development. WVC data collection also requires a broader framework to connect the various Canadian researchers, practitioners, and public to jointly promote their interdependent objectives towards improving wildlife-transportation interactions. Such efforts would help to reduce knowledge gaps and provide more direction for the field.
Sources of WVC Data
Following are tables of different sources of data related to WVCs. For a detailed compilation of various sources of Canadian WVC data, refer to the Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions in Canada: A Review of the Literature and a Compendium of Existing Data Sources (Vanlaar et al. 2012a).
Click on a table title below to active the drop-down panel.
Public sector data: Coroners and medical examiners
Various public agencies collect data on WVCs; however, the majority require permission before you may access the data.
Owner or name of database | Geographic area | Responsible agency | Comments | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alberta Medical Examiner | Alberta | Justice and Solicitor General | Data in reports includes locations and incident dates, among others. | Website |
Chief Medical Examiner’s Office | Manitoba | Manitoba Justice | Data in reports includes place of collision and other information. |
Toll free: 1-800-282-8069 |
Coroners Service of British Columbia | British Columbia | Ministry of Justice, BC | Data in reports include GPS coordinates, weather conditions, vehicle information, and driver condition, among others. | |
Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices | Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland | Provincial government | Data not consistently gathered across all agencies. | Contact local agency. |
Office of the Chief Coroner | Saskatchewan | Ministry of Justice, SK | Data in reports include highway number, weather conditions, vehicle information, and human condition, among others. |
Toll free: 1-866-592-7845 |
Public sector data: Federal agencies
Various public agencies collect data on WVCs; however, the majority require permission before you may access the data.
Owner or name of database | Geographic area | Responsible agency | Comments | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|
Banff National Park | Alberta | Federal government | Data not consistently gathered. Data may be difficult to obtain. Contact office. | Website |
National Collision Database (NCDB) | All of Canada | Transport Canada | Collects data from all law enforcement agencies and provincial insurance agencies on an annual basis. Does not distinguish between domestic and wild animals. | National Collision Database Online, Transport Canada – Motor Vehicle Safety |
National Parks of Canada | All of Canada | Government of Canada | Data not consistently gathered. There are 44 national parks in Canada. | Parks Canada Website, Links to national parks |
Traffic Accident Information Database (TRAID) | All of Canada | Transport Canada | Processed data available online. Contact TC for further information. Collects data from all law enforcement agencies and provincial insurance agencies on an annual basis. Does not distinguish between domestic and wild animals. | Transport Canada – Statistics and Data Online |
Public sector data: Provincial insurers
Various public agencies collect data on WVCs; however, the majority require permission before you may access the data.
Owner or name of database | Geographic area | Responsible agency | Comments | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) | British Columbia | Provincial insurance corporation | Requires permission to access. | www.icbc.com |
Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) | Manitoba | Provincial insurance corporation | Provides some general information on web maps. | www.mpi.mb.ca |
Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) | Saskatchewan | Provincial insurance corporation | Requires permission to access. | www.sgi.sk.ca |
Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) | Quebec | Provincial insurance corporation | Requires permission to access. | www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca |
Public sector data: Other public agencies
Various public agencies collect data on WVCs; however, the majority require permission before you may access the data.
Owner or name of database | Geographic area | Responsible agency | Comments | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alberta Fish and Wildlife | Alberta | Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development | Data not consistently gathered. | Website |
Maintenance Contractors | Most areas in Canada | Provincial or municipal government | Data not consistently gathered across all agencies. | Contact local agency. |
Municipal bylaw or animal services | All of Canada | Municipal agencies | Data not consistently gathered across all agencies. Overlap of data collection between some agencies such as fire and public works departments. | Contact local agency. |
Police reported | All of Canada | Provincial or municipal transportation agencies | Requires permission to access. | Contact local agency |
Road Animal Fatality Information Application (RAFIA) 2008-2009 | Alberta | Alberta Ministry of Transportation | Pilot project between 2008-2009 in Lamont and Vermillion. Highway maintenance contractors tested a GPS-enabled tool to gather specific data on carcasses collected in the field. | Technical Standards Branch Newsletter (PDF) |
Wildlife Accident Reporting System (WARS) | British Columbia | BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure(Data are collected by maintenance contractors and reported to the Ministry) | Ministry maintenance contractors identify and record the species and location of each animal killed on the highways. Provides publicly available processed data in the form of reports. Downloadable road kill guide. | Website |
Private and Non-Profit sector data
A number of organizations collect data on wildlife and may record data with respect to collisions with vehicles as part of threats to wildlife.
Owner or name of database | Geographic area | Responsible agency | Comments | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|
Highway Wilding | Banff National Park, AB | Wildlife Monitoring and Research Collaborative in the Canadian Rocky Mountains | Data are collected on effectiveness of mitigation measures used in Banff National Park along the TransCanada Highway. Processed data available using interactive maps. Raw data are not public, contact institution. | Website, Website – Research |
Moose Survey | Alberta | “Moose Hunter Survey”, Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta | Launched August 2014Collection of long-term data on the population status and trends of moose populations throughout AlbertaData collected via cell phone app or online form | Website, Cell phone app, Online form |
Road Watch | Highway 3, Alberta | Miistakis Institute | Collects citizen-science data via a web mapping tool and through a handheld device. The web mapping tool can be accessed by anyone while the handheld device (Otto) requires participants to register in the program and regularly download the data collected. The area of study is Highway 3 (Crowsnest Pass) in southern Alberta | Website |
TIRF National Fatality Database | All of Canada | Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) | Data are collected from both law enforcement and medical/coroner offices across Canada. Includes cases that may be omitted by other databases such as victims involved in collisions occurring on private property, crown land, or First Nations lands that may not be reported by police. | Website |
Wildlife Data Centre | British Columbia | Biodiversity Centre for Wildlife Studies | Gathers, compiles, archives, and summarizes information on wildlife in British Columbia. One of the largest wildlife information centres in North America. | Website |
Beyond Canada, there are other sources of data that may be useful for analysis.
Owner or name of database | Geographic area | Responsible agency | Comments | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|
California Roadkill Observation System (CROS) | U.S. (California) | Road Ecology Center at UC Davis Information Center for the Environment | Citizen-science collected data. The site provides a map of California with the citizen-reported data pinned to the location of the carcass sighting. | Website data are visible through an online form or an interactive map. |
EpiCollect Roadkill Garneau | U.S. | Smartphone Apps for Wildlife Observations | Citizen-science collected data.Data appears limited to 2012. Data collected by an enthusiast, no affiliation with any organizations or businesses. Web mapping tool and downloadable data (CSV and XML formats). | Raw data are public and downloadable. |
EWT Biodiversity Data Bank | South Africa | Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) | Collects data on threatened species in South Africa. | Request data page. About the project. |
I-90 Wildlife Watch | U.S. (Washington state) | Western Transportation Institute (WTI) | Citizen-science data. A web-based map and database designed to record observations of road-side and road-killed wildlife. | Data can be reported through an online form and reported data viewed through an interactive map. |
Maine Audubon Wildlife Road Watch | U.S. (Maine) | Maine AudubonMaine Department of Inland Fisheries and WildlifeMaine Department of TransportationRoad Ecology Center at UC Davis | Citizen-science data. A web-based map and database designed to record observations of road-side and road-killed wildlife. | Data are visible through an online form or an interactive map. |
Wildlife Observer Network (WON) | U.S. | Individual projects, different owners. | Citizen-science data. Provides a service for wildlife photographers to manage camera networks and share photos and data in a web-based environment. | Website |
WVC Reporter | U.S. (Utah) | Utah State University, Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), Automated Geographic Reference Center (AGRC) | Consists of a GIS database, an interactive map based website, and a mobile application. UDOT and UDWR employees collect and submit data. | Website |
The following are databases that collect information via mobile applications.
Owner or name of database | Geographic area | Responsible agency | Comments | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|
Avoideer app | North America, Europe | Avoideer (Norwegian based) | Collects real-time data on deer sightings along roadways from citizens via a cell phone app. The app warns other drivers through audible and visual alarms when their phone enters the vicinity of the sighting. Unsure if data are stored or recorded for analysis. | Not a true citizen-science data collection as the information is intended as a warning. Website, Email, Facebook page |
Moose Survey | Alberta | “Moose Hunter Survey”, Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta | Launched August 2014 Collection of long-term data on the population status and trends of moose populations throughout Alberta. Data collected via cell phone app or online form | Website, Cell phone app (Android), Web form |
Road Watch | Highway 3, Alberta | Miistakis Institute | Collects citizen-science data via a web mapping tool and through a handheld device. The web mapping tool can be accessed by anyone while the handheld device (Otto) requires participants to register in the program and regularly download the data collected. The area of study is Highway 3 (Crowsnest Pass) in southern Alberta | Website |
Gommerman, Luke, & Monroe, Martha C. (2012). Lessons learned from evaluations of citizen science programs. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.
L-P Tardif & Associates Inc. (2003). Collisions Involving Motor Vehicles and Large Animals in Canada. Final Report. Ottawa, ON: Transport Canada, Road Safety Directorate.
Oxford Dictionaries. Citizen science. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/ english/citizen-science?q=citizen+science. (Accessed October 9, 2014).
Vanlaar, W.G.M.; Gunson, K.E.; Brown, S.W.; and Robertson, R.D. (2012a). Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions in Canada: A Review of the Literature and a Compendium of Existing Data Sources. Ottawa, ON: Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF).
Vanlaar, W. G. M., Gunson, K. E., Brown, S. W., & Robertson, R. D. (2012b). Creating a Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Clearing House in Canada: A Feasibility Study. Ottawa, ON: Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF).