Township council has agreed to study a report by Dr. Patricia Tallman that focuses on roadkill, methods to reduce the number of animals killed on the road, and recommends a protocol for developers.

On Oct. 3, Tallman drew attention to the high number of animals being displaced as bulldozers drive them from their habitat in Willoughby. She said that squirrels, mice, birds, rabbits, opossums and other animals are being killed as they cross roads to find new homes.

She wants council to initiate a public awareness policy, including signs, designate additional wildlife habitat corridors and other areas, and create a protocol for construction excavation and foundation work.

Tallman鈥檚 research was compiled into a report which notes that there appears to be no policy requiring a development blend into the natural ecological features that it is replacing.

In her presentation, Tallman noted that the B.C. Wildlife Act prohibits tree cutting during nesting season if there are nestlings or fledglings.

鈥淏ut is this always adhered to?鈥� she asked.

On Oct. 17, after a majority of council backed Councillor Kim Richter鈥檚 motion that staff study the research, Tallman pointed out that the issue of road kill is not limited to spring and summer. And she warned that one day, instead of an animal killed as it crossed the road 鈥渋t could be a person.鈥�

Roadkill is the result of urban development and its related activities without due attention to wildlife habitat loss, Tallman charged.