ODC Road Survey

The Osoyoos Desert Centre is a unique conservation area in British Columbia, Canada, that protects the rare Antelope Brush Ecosystem. This area is classified as a semi-arid desert, and it’s the natural habitat for various species of rare wildlife in Canada. While the centre works hard to protect and preserve the local wildlife, there is still a significant risk of mortality due to vehicles passing through nearby roads. In an effort to better understand this issue and reduce the harm caused to wildlife, conservation scientists have developed a new app that allows users to monitor wildlife mortality on nearby roads.

The app is designed to be user-friendly and simple to use, even for those with limited technical experience. Users start by recording their walks along the nearby road, noting any animals they spot along the way. This could include animals that have been hit by vehicles or animals that are simply spotted on or near the road.

When a user spots an animal that has been hit by a vehicle, they can quickly report it using the app. The app will prompt the user to identify the species of the animal, along with the number of individuals spotted. This information is crucial for conservation scientists, who can use it to better understand the impact of roadways on local wildlife populations.

The app also captures abiotic data such as temperature, lux, cloud cover and wind, to allow researcher to correlate wildlife activity with weather trends.

All of the data collected by the app is stored in a secure database that is accessible to conservation scientists. This allows them to analyze the data and identify trends over time. For example, they may notice that certain species are more likely to be hit by vehicles during certain times of the year or in certain areas. This information can then be used to develop
targeted strategies for reducing wildlife mortality on nearby roads.

Conservation scientists can develop plans for improving the safety of these areas, such as installing warning signs or building wildlife crossings.

The app is a powerful tool for monitoring wildlife mortality on nearby roads and developing targeted strategies for reducing the harm caused to local wildlife populations. By harnessing the power of citizen science, conservation scientists can work with local citizens and get them more engaged in conservation and conservation projects