NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
April 29, 2015
Contact:
Agata Ketterick, 207-781-2330 x232
Citizen Scientists Needed to Help Watch for Wildlife on the Road
Maine Audubon seeks “road watch” volunteers
FALMOUTH – As the weather warms up, many animals are on the move and are more likely to be spotted on or near Maine roads. Audubon seeks volunteers to survey roads in Maine for signs of animal road crossings. Information collected by volunteers about where different animals attempt to cross roads is the critical first step in identifying ways to reduce road-kill and increase safety for people and wildlife.
Maine Audubon’s Wildlife Road Watch is a web-based map and database designed to record citizen scientists’ observations of road-side and road-killed wildlife. Volunteers can participate by submitting roadside observations on the Wildlife Road Watch website. Go to maineaudubon1.wpengine.com/wildlife-habitat/wildlife-road-watch/ to register and start submitting observations today.
Since the inception of the Wildlife Road Watch program in 2010, over 460 volunteers have reported over 4,800 wildlife observations of 130 different wildlife species, including reports of rare and endangered species.
Roads can have a big impact on endangered species by impeding movement and separating populations, as well as killing individuals from collisions. Unless changes are made, Maine Audubon biologists report that Blanding’s turtles and spotted turtles are likely to become extinct in Maine due to road mortality.
Biologists with Maine Audubon, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and the Maine Department of Transportation will use the information gathered by volunteers to reduce road risks to wildlife and improve conditions for drivers.
To learn more about Wildlife Road Watch, contact Barbara Charry at Maine Audubon at (207) 781-2330 x225 or bcharry@maineaudubon.org.
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About Maine Audubon Maine Audubon’s science-based approach to conservation, education and advocacy advances wildlife and wildlife habitat conservation in Maine. Our citizen science programs connect Maine people to engaging volunteer opportunities that make meaningful contributions to conservation research. The largest Maine-based wildlife conservation organization, Maine Audubon has eight centers and wildlife sanctuaries and serves over 50,000 people annually, with 20,000 members and 2,000 volunteers.
Conserving Maine’s wildlife. Please visit www.maineaudubon1.wpengine.com for more information. Facebook: & Twitter ID: Maine Audubon
