The Place in the U.S. With the Least Amount of Roadkill Isn’t a State
Roadkill is a daily reality for many Americans. Every day, insurance companies deal with animal collision claims, especially in parts of America where roads are built next to nature. You may live in a mainly urban state, which may lead you to think that you live in the state with the least amount of roadkill.
However, the place in the U.S. with the least amount of roadkill isn’t even a state. Here is everything you need to know about roadkill risk based on where you live and the place in the U.S. that has the least amount of roadkill.
What causes wildlife vehicle collision risk?
According to Science Direct, the biggest roadkill risk factors revolve around road proximity to nature. Forests, wetlands, and croplands are some of the few areas where roadkill occurs the most, and roadkill seems to happen the least near bodies of water. Interestingly enough, road speed did not appear to correlate with increased roadkill rates. Urban areas also saw a decrease in roadkill risk compared to rural areas.
When it comes down to it, rural areas near nature offer the most significant risk for vehicle collisions with wildlife. If you find yourself driving in a rural area, State Farm suggests that you do most of your driving during the day when many common roadkill creatures are not looking for a meal. It is also a good idea to drive with your high beams on and to stay alert for any possible braking you can do to avoid a collision with wildlife. If you are on a crash course with an animal, keeping the steering wheel steady through the collision is best. Swerving to avoid a collision with wildlife can be worse and lead to serious passenger injuries.
Which place in the U.S. has the lowest roadkill risk?
Although it is not a state a doesn’t belong to one, Washington, D.C., has the lowest risk for roadkill. If you are a resident of D.C., you can rest easy knowing you only have a 1 in 816 chance of getting in a collision with wildlife. This should be no surprise if you have ever visited or lived in Washington, D.C. Nearly the entire D.C. area is urban, leaving little to no wildlife ever found on the side of streets as victims of vehicle collisions.
Immediately following Washington, D.C., in lowest roadkill risk is Hawaii, where drivers have a 1 in 649 chance of a collision. Next is Nevada, where you have a 1 in 551 chance of a collision out in the desert. Finally, California has the third least amount of roadkill, where drivers have a 1 in 427 chance of a collision.
Which states in the U.S. have the highest roadkill risk?
Moving away from Washington, D.C., the states with the highest roadkill risk are those with many risk factors. Rural states with abundant wildlife near roads clearly indicate that a good amount of roadkill occurs there.
The states with the highest amount of roadkill are Wyoming, Minnesota, Mississippi, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Montana, and West Virginia. In Pennsylvania, you have a 1 in 52 chance of encountering a collision with wildlife. As a Montana resident, you have a 1 in 47 chance. Finally, in West Virginia, with its mountainous roads, you have a 1 in 37 chance of a collision with wildlife.
