Wildlife Road Toll Reduction Project

Wildlife Victoria receives approximately 110,000 calls each year from members of the public reporting sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife.   

The greatest cause of injury to wildlife is road-related accidents with tens of thousands of native animals killed or injured on Victoria’s roads each year.     

To address this issue, Wildlife Victoria is developing a Wildlife Road Toll Reduction Pilot Project. 

The project will initially engage with three local councils, selected for their high road toll reports. The engagement will focus on providing advice and sharing insights into how to reduce the wildlife road toll. 

During the pilot stage, Wildlife Victoria is also hoping to implement mitigation strategies in each of the three Local Government Areas (LGAs) to improve the outcome for wildlife welfare.   

These strategies might include community engagement, reduced speed limits, virtual fencing and improvements to road signage.  

Wildlife Victoria will work closely alongside these councils to develop, implement and evaluate the delivery of these mitigation strategies.  

The findings of the initial implementation of the Wildlife Road Toll Reduction Pilot Project will be used to inform a toolkit of resources that can be delivered as a fully-fledged program to LGAs across the state. 

Councils interested in learning more about the project can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

How you can help to reduce the Wildlife Road Toll 

Slow down on roads where wildlife is present.

1. Help wildlife in need  

If you are driving and hit a native animal, or see an animal injured by the side of the road: 

Call Wildlife Victoria’s Emergency Response Service on 03 8400 7300. IF SAFE pull over and wait to speak with a highly skilled wildlife Emergency Response Operator. 

This is especially important for marsupials (pouched animals) as they may have in-pouch young.  

In-pouch joeys can survive for up to two weeks in their mother’s pouch after she has died so its vitally important pouches are checked.  

Wildlife Victoria can organise for a wildlife rescuer to come and take the joey to a wildlife shelter to be cared for and eventually returned to the wild. 

2. Donate 

Wildlife Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation that provides the community with a free 24/7 wildlife Emergency Response Service. 

We rely on your generosity to continue our important work to protect Victoria’s wildlife. 

Support our work by making a donation today. wildlifevictoria.org.au/donate 

3. Become a volunteer  

You can train to become a volunteer rescuer and transporter.  

Rescuers respond to calls from the Wildlife Victoria’s Emergency Response Service to attend to sick, injured, and orphaned native animals.  

The Rescuer assesses the situation and will either undertake the rescue or seek further advice from our Emergency Response Operators.  

The Rescuer then transports the animals to a local veterinarian, licensed wildlife shelter, or foster carer. 

You will need to be comfortable both handling animals and liaising with members of the public.  

For more information head to our Get Involved page or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.