A study of wildlife mortality rates in a corridor between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia found 26 species of animals were killed by vehicles last summer.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada conducted the study – the Wildpaths Maritimes project – in partnership with Dalhousie University along the Chignecto Isthmus.
NCC spokesperson Paula Noel says the university researcher found that porcupine and raccoon were the most common animals.
“There were 116 records of porcupine and 113 records of raccoon. The next most common mammal the researcher found was skunk and there were 28 records of skunk that were killed,” she notes.
The project found the highest rates of wildlife mortality were along Route 134 and Highway 15 in New Brunswick and along Route 6 in Nova Scotia.
She adds the long term goal is to use this research to work with the Department of Transportation to find solutions on how to prevent wildlife and vehicle collisions.
Noel says the Nature Conservancy wants to continue the research this year by finding volunteers to record wildlife observations along the road.
Anyone who wants to volunteer should get in touch with the Nature Conservancy at 1-877-231-4400 or follow this link to the project, https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/wildpaths-maritimes
