National Roadkill Day 2023: National Roadkill Day is observed every year on September 25. National Roadkill Day is not about bringing attention to the dangers of roadkill or the fact that so many animals die on the roads, contrary to popular belief. National Roadkill Day aims to raise awareness of roadkill as an immediate and waste-free way to help feed many Americans who are starving.
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The History of National Roadkill Day
Since the early 1900s, roadkill refers to any animal closest toigted or killed by moving vehicles. When roadkill became a safety and ecological concern and data began to accumulate, the naturalist Joseph Grinnell began investigating it. He estimated that daily, hundreds or even thousands of animals are struck by vehicles in California alone. That was a century ago, and the population has only increased since then.
Between June 2020 and July 2021, there were 2.1 million animal collision-related insurance claims in the United States, as reported by State Farms. In just one year, the number of reported animal collisions in Pennsylvania rose to 166,404. According to studies, approximately 12,000 animal collision incidents occurred annually in one state in 1920. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of collisions in California rose from approximately 12,000 to 104,767, an increase of 92,767 incidents.
The significant increase in road fatalities has been caused by a number of factors. First, the human population and the size of cities and towns have grown rapidly; we have forced animals to live in man-made environments despite the dangers they pose to all species. Second, people are driving faster and with more distractions than ever before.
Despite the fact that normal highway speeds already pose a fatal risk of collisions due to driver distraction, many individuals continue to drive at excessive speeds. Drivers who are distracted by their cell phones cause an estimated 1.6 million accidents in the United States annually. Considering all of these factors, it is easy to comprehend why roadkill has become so prevalent in the United States.
Five Roadkill Facts
- By examining roadkill, scientists can study animal anatomy and biology without killing the animals.
- Carrion is a natural component of the diets of vultures, ravens, and foxes, and their consumption of roadkill prevents carcasses from remaining on roads for too long.
- If roadkill is sufficiently fresh and well-cooked, it is generally considered safe for consumption; 49 states currently allow this.
- Even though eating roadkill is legal in the majority of the United States, the majority of people still disapprove of it.
- Inexplicably, the popular television program “Roadkill” focuses on modified automobiles rather than animals.
NATIONAL ROADKILL DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | September 25 | Monday |
| 2024 | September 25 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | September 25 | Thursday |
| 2026 | September 25 | Friday |
| 2027 | September 25 | Saturday |
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