NewsCalifornia News

Actions

Study: Fewer wildlife deaths as traffic dips during pandemic

Posted
and last updated

VENTURA, Calif. — VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — A study shows California’s stay-at-home order in response to the coronavirus outbreak seems to have saved some wildlife, as decreased traffic resulted in fewer collisions with mountain lions, deer and other large animals.

The Ventura County Star reports a study by the Road Ecology Center at the University of California, Davis found traffic declined by about 75% after the emergency order went into effect in March.

The number of animals struck and killed by vehicles also fell, including a 58% decrease in fatal crashes involving mountain lions between the 10 weeks before and 10 weeks after the order.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Wednesday

02/05/2025

AM Showers

58° / 42°

59%

Thursday

02/06/2025

Mostly Cloudy

69° / 54°

17%

Friday

02/07/2025

AM Showers

61° / 41°

34%

Saturday

02/08/2025

Partly Cloudy

58° / 40°

7%

Sunday

02/09/2025

Partly Cloudy

58° / 37°

6%

Monday

02/10/2025

Partly Cloudy

59° / 37°

6%

Tuesday

02/11/2025

Mostly Sunny

59° / 39°

7%

Wednesday

02/12/2025

Mostly Cloudy

59° / 44°

24%