Slow down to save Tasmanian devils
Published: 25/10/2011
Tasmanian drivers are being urged to reduce speed between dusk and dawn to reduce the number of Tasmanian devils killed on the State’s roads.
The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program is stepping-up its campaign to ease pressure on the already endangered species. Drivers are asked to slow down at night to avoid hitting wildlife, as well as report any sightings of road-killed Tasmanian devils.
The public is being urged to keep a roadkill report form in the glovebox of their car, as a reminder of the devil’s vulnerability.
Reporting sightings helps the Save the Tasmanian Deveil Program track the extent and geographic patterns of roadkill across Tasmania. It also helps monitor the spread of Devil Facial Tumour Disease.
The warning to motorists is very timely because devils are on the move from November to March. Around this time of year, juvenile devils start to leave home to find a den of their own, so the mobile population swells considerably.
The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program Manager, Andrew Sharman, said safety was a priority, and road-killed devils should not be touched.
"Help from the community is greatly appreciated, and road safety measures should be observed when they stop to investigate a roadkill event," Mr Sharman said.
"Photos taken with a mobile phone are very useful, but on no account should the devils be handled."
370 reports from across the State were received in 2010-11 via reply paid forms, from this website, and telephone and sms messages.
Roadkill report forms are available from outlets around Tasmania, including Service Tasmania and visitor information centres.
Two things you can do
- Slow down on the road between dusk and dawn
- Report Tasmanian devil roadkill sightings.
Two ways to report roadkill
SMS messages and mobile phone details and photos can be sent to 0427 733511.
More information is available on this website.
