Every Eight Minutes a Wild Animal Dies on Austria's Roads

A total of 65,011 wild animals fell victim to road traffic in Austria during the hunting year 2024/25. Compared to the hunting year 2023/24, this is a decrease of six percent. In 2024, 374 people were injured in wildlife accidents, as many as last recorded in 2019. In other words, approximately every eight minutes a wild animal dies on Austria's roads, and daily a person is injured. The Road Safety Board (KFV) has now investigated which factors increase the risk of wildlife accidents and which measures can prevent traffic accidents.

Amstetten and Neusiedl am See Are the Most Dangerous for Humans and Animals

As the detailed analysis of wildlife accidents in the hunting year 2024/25 by the KFV shows, the diversity of wild animals killed on Austria's roads is large. Leading the list were 36,637 deer, 16,797 hares, and 4,442 pheasants. Most wild animals were killed in road traffic in the district of Neusiedl am See, followed by the districts of Mistelbach and Amstetten. Most people were injured in wildlife accidents in 2024 in the district of Amstetten, followed by the districts of Braunau, Südoststeiermark, and Leibnitz. Among the federal states, Lower Austria ranks first in terms of wild animals killed, followed by Upper Austria and Styria.

KFV Director: Do Not Swerve in Case of Wildlife Encounters

"On gloomy autumn days, special caution is advised, as an average of 47 percent of wildlife accidents with personal injury occur in the dark and eleven percent at dusk," explains Mag. Christian Schimanofsky, Director of the Road Safety Board (KFV). In a collision with a hefty deer or roe deer, the risk is particularly high that people in the vehicles will also be harmed. As soon as an animal appears in front of you, the expert recommends reacting as follows: "Brake immediately, dim the lights, and if necessary, honk several times to startle the wildlife and prompt it to flee," says the expert. Under no circumstances should you initiate evasive maneuvers, as this can lead to collisions with oncoming traffic or trees. Additionally, wild animals like deer and red deer often travel in herds, meaning you would have to avoid several animals at once.

Half of Wildlife Accidents Happen Due to Carelessness

"Anyone who is driving too fast has too little time to react themselves and gives the wildlife too little time to leave the roadway," as Schimanofsky explains: Because almost 40 percent of all wildlife accidents occur due to inappropriate speed and more than 50 percent due to inattention and distraction. The KFV director also points to the natural instinct of animals. "Wild animals instinctively stop when changing surfaces – and thus also when entering a road. Even when dazzled by headlights, the animals initially remain instinctively still, as they are effectively blind and disoriented by the light."

Mushroom Pickers Beware Too

But not only drivers can contribute to accident prevention, as Mag. Schimanofsky emphasizes, but also people who search for mushrooms off marked paths, mountain bike, hike, or are out with free-running dogs. Because their activities in nature cause wild animals to flee and subsequently run across roads. Driving agricultural vehicles can also startle wild animals. Additionally, the traffic safety expert emphasizes: "Due to increasing urbanization, many animals also live near settlements, which leads to diurnal animals adapting and becoming nocturnal. This increases the risk of wildlife crossing at night." Cars are also becoming quieter, which means they are perceived later or too late by wildlife when crossing roads.

How to React Correctly in an Accident

If, despite all precautions, you collide with a wild animal, there are also clear recommendations from the KFV director: "Park the vehicle as far off the road as possible, turn on the hazard lights, put on your safety vest, and then set up the warning triangle." If people are injured, first aid must of course be provided and emergency services must be notified. Afterwards, the wildlife accident must be reported to the police – even if no people were injured and the hit animal is on the run.

(APA/Red)

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