The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) has issued safety advice for drivers, including those in Melton and Moorabool, who may encounter wildlife on the roads as they head away for the Labour Day long weekend.
Wildlife Victoria data revealed 10,643 native animals were reported to be hit by a vehicle on the state’s roads during the 2022-23 financial year, an increase of 15 per cent from the previous year.
The total number of wildlife hit by vehicles is also likely to be much higher, as many incidents are not registered with Wildlife Victoria.
Wildlife Victoria said this wasn’t just a problem for regional or rural drivers, with incidents happening across the state including in metropolitan suburbs, with urbanisation pushing wildlife into more highly populated areas.
Insurance claims data from the RACV reveals just how prevalent the problem is, with more than 6000 RACV collision claims involving native animals last year in Victoria.
RACV head of Policy James Williams said it is important to know what to do should you come across wildlife while driving.
‘‘The safest option is to plan your trip to avoid driving at dawn and dusk, when wildlife is often most active,” Mr Williams said.
Of the 10,643 reported incidents, eastern grey kangaroos represented 65 per cent of animals struck.
However, the casualties included a wide range of Australian species such as wombats, possums, koalas, echidnas and even birds like cockatoos and magpies.
