Subtle roadside detail that poses danger to Aussie drivers: 'Easy to spot'
Wildlife tends to habituate the same paths, and rescuer Kate Turner estimates 80 per cent of vehicle strikes occur within 100 metres of established road crossings as native animals tread the well-worn path.
'It's incredibly frustrating. I can remember once removing a dead wombat off the road, only to find three other bodies that had been dragged off in the same spot,' she told Yahoo News.
'Even birds tend to get hit in the same spots.'
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As the founder of Murrindindi Ranges Wildlife Shelter, Kate's experience has been focused around roads northeast of Melbourne. But the same principles apply across Australia.
While many councils erect wildlife warning signs close to known crossings, Kate doesn't think they're the answer. She wants drivers to get to know where their pathways are and to slow down.
'People just need to pay attention… I've moved bodies from directly underneath the signs warning about wildlife,' she said.
'Maybe flashing signs with words saying 'slow down' might work, but people just do what they want without regard.'
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While not all motorists care about wildlife, hitting an animal can be expensive, and when it comes to kangaroos they can cause enough damage to write off a vehicle.
"If you pay attention these paths are easy to spot. Learn them, slow down around them, and expect roos to come out at those spots. Treat them like zebra crossings," she advised on social media.
Kate recommends drivers get to know worn paths that resemble bike or horse tracks. If you're driving long distances, it can be impossible to spot all of them, but knowing where they are in your local area is an easy task.
'This month I've already euthanised at least eight animals due to injuries sustained from motor vehicle accidents, and had three enter care,' she told Yahoo.
'Plus I found a live wombat joey in a deceased mum who was killed by a car.'
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