FALMOUTH — As the weather warms up, many animals are on the move and are more likely to be spotted on or near Maine roads. 

Maine Audubon seeks volunteers to survey roads in Maine for signs of animal road crossings. Information collected by volunteers about where different animals attempt to cross roads is the critical first step in identifying ways to reduce roadkill and increase safety for people and wildlife.

Maine Audubon’s Wildlife Road Watch is a web-based map and database designed to record citizen scientists’ observations of roadside and roadkilled wildlife. Volunteers can participate by submitting roadside observations on the Wildlife Road Watch website.  Go to maineaudubon.org/wildlife-habitat/wildlife-road-watch/ to register and start submitting observations today.

Since the inception of the Wildlife Road Watch program in 2010, more than 460 volunteers have reported over 4,800 wildlife observations of 130 different wildlife species, including reports of rare and endangered species.

Roads can have a big impact on endangered species by impeding movement and separating populations, as well as killing animals. Unless changes are made, Maine Audubon biologists report that Blanding’s turtles and Spotted turtles are likely to disappear from Maine due to road mortality.

Maine Audubon, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Maine Department of Transportation will use the information gathered by volunteers to reduce road risks to wildlife and improve conditions for drivers.

FMI: 207-781-2330 ext. 225, [email protected].