Department of Natural Resources warns to watch out for juvenile devils on the road

Juvenile Tasmanian devils are leaving their mother’s pouches and venturing out into the world and onto our roads — prompting a warning. Where the devil roadkill hotspots are >>

Itchy and Scratchy, 6-month-old Tasmanian devils, at the Australian Reptile Park. Picture: Toby Zerna

Motorists are being urged to look out for juvenile Tasmanian devils as they start making moves and venturing out into the world.

Millions of animals are killed, injured or orphaned every year on Tasmanian roads and Woolnorth Road in the states far north-west is a hotspot for devil deaths.

Itchy and Scratchy the 6-month-old Tasmanian devils. Picture: Toby Zerna

A Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) spokeswoman said this was the time of year the juvenile devils leave their mother.

“The juvenile devils are small, quick and not very road savvy,” she said.

She said slowing down in high-risk times (dusk to dawn) and raising driver awareness are the single most effective measures for reducing roadkill.

The spokeswoman encouraged people to report roadkill sightings to the Tasmanian Roadkill reporter app.

Data collected shows Woolnorth, The Tasman Peninsula and the Forestier peninsulas are the top hotspots for devil roadkill.

The data collected through the app provides important insights for road owners, managers, and other groups to help inform roadkill reduction strategies in the state, the spokeswoman said.

NRE Tas is warning juvenile devils are on the move. Picture: NRE Tas

She said reducing roadkill is the responsibility of all road owners and road users, and slowing down to 80km/hr from 100km/hr can reduce the number of animals killed on the roads by 50 per cent.

“Raising driver awareness and slowing down in high-risk times (dusk to dawn) are the single most effective measures for reducing roadkill,” the spokeswoman said.

The Roadkill Reporter app is available on Google play, Apple app store and the Microsoft app store.