Ballona Roadkill Quantified in New Study

In a new study funded by the state Coastal Conservancy, investigators from The Bay Foundation, Cal State University Channel Islands, and Friends of Ballona Wetlands quantified what we who drive Culver, Jefferson and Lincoln Boulevards through the Ballona Wetlands already know: We kill small animals with our cars.

The study by Johnston et al.1 examined the numbers and species of small animals killed by autos, and where in the Ballona Reserve they were most likely to buy the farm.

In 70 surveys performed over three years, 654 roadkills were recorded, with roughly equal numbers occurring in each of the three years. More roadkills per mile occurred on segments of Culver Boulevard than on the Lincoln or Jefferson segments. The Ballona kills per mile numbers are many times higher, and in some cases two orders of magnitude higher, than areas outside the Reserve.

Cottontail rabbits, squirrels and opossums were the most common victims, with raccoons and coyotes less frequently meeting their four-wheeled reapers. Most roadkills occurred during warmer summer months.

The authors note that auto-wildlife collisions are ubiquitous throughout the nation and the developed world. The solution: SLOW DOWN and pay attention as you drive through the Reserve!

Enjoy your Ballona Wetlands!

1. Karina Johnston1, Ivan Medel1, Patrick Tyrrell2, and Sean Anderson3. Patterns of Vehicle-Based Vertebrate Mortality in the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, Los Angeles, CA. November 26, 2014. 1-The Bay Foundation. 2-Friends of Ballona Wetlands. 3-Environmental Science and Resource Management Program, California State University Channel Islands