Are you an avid cyclist based in or planning extensive travel through Montana? Here’s a great opportunity for you to volunteer to help make Montana roads safer.
More than 365 million animals are killed, 29,000 humans injured, and $8.4 billion in damages incurred every year in the United States as a result of wildlife-vehicle collisions. Montana has the second-highest incidence in the nation.
From 2019-2022 Adventure Scientists volunteers will cycle 11,000+ miles of Montana’s roads, four times per year, recording all roadkill they encounter as well as detailed environmental observations.
This project aims to bring together ecology researchers and transportation policy makers to improve transportation systems based on an understanding of how roads affect natural landscapes.
The information––including photos, species ID, location, road conditions, nearby infrastructure, and other key data points––will be captured in a smartphone app for analysis and ease of access by all interested parties.
The sightings recorded by our trained volunteers provide data on several topics of interest to researchers:
Which species are affected, and when
Wildlife travel patterns
Whether roadkill “hotspots” exist, and if so, where
How to reduce vehicle-caused animal deaths
Here is a short video about the project.
Adventure Scientists in Bozeman are seeking adventurous individuals who pay close attention to detail, follow through on their commitments in a timely matter, and are able to regularly communicate with the Adventure Scientists team.
General qualifications:
18 years of age or older.
Access to and proficiency with an iPhone 6 or Android equivalent (or later generation smartphone).
Ability to safely cycle on Montana state highways with at least one partner.
Previous field data collection experience is preferred but not required.
To participate visit https://www.adventurescientists.org/mt-wildlife-volunteer-info.html