Become A Citizen Scientist
Want to Get Involved? Become a Citizen Scientist using the ROaDS Smartphone Application!
Below you will find the instructions for downloading and using the app. Please review the training materials before collecting data.
BE SAFE! Always use caution when collecting data near the road. It is best if you can have a passenger enter data into the app.
Participants can view the data collected in real time using this online dashboard.
Questions? Contact Liz Fairbank at the Center for Large Landscape Conservation
Roadkill Observation and Data System
The National Park Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service partnered with the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University to develop a standardized data collection system for federal land management agencies to record where wildlife interact with roads and where they are being struck by vehicles. By recording both live and road-killed animals we can better understand how wildlife are moving along the road corridor and identify the highest risk areas for wildlife-vehicle collisions. This system, called ROaDS (The Roadkill Observation and Data System), provides critical information for decision-makers to most effectively develop solutions to make roads safer for people and wildlife!
Now, through a partnership with The Center for Large Landscape Conservation, the ROaDS system is available for Citizen Science use with the Yellowstone Safe Passages coalition!
How to Get the App and Survey Form
Go to the App Store or wherever you usually download your apps.
Search for the free “Survey 123” app and select “GET.”
Once the app has downloaded, just scan the QR code, and it will prompt you to open the form using Survey123.
Now you’re ready to start collecting data!
Scan this QR code!
How to Fill out the survey Form
1. Location
Your location should automatically show on the map. You can also adjust this manually if necessary.
To lock in your location you MUST click the check mark in the bottom right corner.
Once the location is locked in, it is saved and you can fill in the rest of the form from a safer location if necessary!
2. Information
Photo - The photo is optional. Please only take a photo if you are in a safe location!
Type of Animal Observed - Choose from the drop-down list of common species. If you don’t see the species you are looking for on the list you can select “Other” and then will be given space to type in the species. Only one type of animal can be entered at once. If two or more species are seen together you will need to make an additional entry for each species.
Confidence Level - How positive are you that you’ve correctly identified the species? Sometimes this can be really challenging with roadkill!
Number of Animals - This is just for the one species you are making a record for.
Animal Status - REMEMBER, we want to know where animals are approaching/trying to cross the road as well as where they are getting hit!
Comments - If you are making multiple entries for different species please make a note of that!
Also, please enter your 3 initials in the comment box so that we can track how many different people have contributed to this effort
3. View the Data
All of the data collected will be available in real time using our online dashboard! Use this link to see a map and some basic stats on the data that you and other citizens collect!
Training Instructions PDF
Download/print the ROaDS training PDF to keep the instructions on hand!