Identifying hotspots and drivers of wildlife-vehicle collision risk using citizen science data: a case study focused on the European badger Meles meles

1. Wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) are one of the leading causes of wildlife mortality worldwide and represent a major anthropogenic threat to wildlife populations. 2. Understanding the environmental and abiotic factors that contribute to the occurrence of WVCs and identifying ‘hotspots’ of particularly high WVC occurrence are both vital first steps for mitigating mortality and conserving species. 3. Here, we assess where and why WVCs occur for the European badger Meles meles . This species is an easily identifiable, nocturnal and native mammal in Great Britain (GB), and is the most reported mammal species by citizen scientists to long-term roadkill recording project, ‘The Road Lab’. 4. We used ad hoc citizen science WVC data alongside a MaxEnt species distribution modelling approach to identify that roadkill risk is generally a function of badger distribution. Exceptions to this occur in urban and suburban areas where WVC-risk is high relative to live occurrence and for WVC ‘hotspots’ which are not coincident in space with hotspots of live badger occurrence. 5. We identify 2248 ‘hotspots’ of WVCs; areas that are in the top 1 % of badger roadkill risk, at both a 1 km- and county-level, finding the majority are located within central and southern England. 6. This study highlights the widespread WVC-risk faced by badgers, a threat which is set to increase as traffic levels rise and urban areas expand. 7. We present hotspot locations as an open access searchable map, constituting a decision support system for conservation practitioners looking to reduce or prevent wildlife roadkill. • First detailed assessment of European badger roadkill risk in Great Britain • High overlap between predicted roadkill risk and live badger distribution • Urban areas pose high risk, despite lower badger abundance. • Hotspots could guide targeted mitigation efforts.