by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
What started as a thorough presentation on wildlife mortality ended with a motion to install a three-way stop sign at the intersection of Sanibel-Captiva Road and Rabbit Road to slow traffic and increase safety for people and wildlife. That motion carried 3-2, with Council members Richard Johnson and John Henshaw voting against.
The Wildlife Mortality Report (WMR), initiated in late 2021, indicates several roadway segments (e.g., Sanibel Captiva Road, Rabbit Road, Tarpon Bay Road) where driver speed and wildlife movement intersect, creating potential safety risks for motorists, cyclists, and wildlife.
These areas correspond to known wildlife corridors and high-traffic routes where posted speed limits are more likely to be exceeded.
Ensuring driver compliance with posted speed limits and increasing public awareness of wildlife movement patterns with outreach initiatives are key to reducing collision incidents and maintaining roadway safety standards, according to the report.
To compile the WMR, the city’s Natural Resources department collects information not only from other city departments, but also from other conservation organizations on the island, including The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, and the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
Toward that end, when birds, mammals, reptiles, or amphibians are discovered on the city’s collector and arterial roads, the deceased or injured wild animal is photographed, its GPS location is recorded, and the species identification is confirmed. City staff consolidate these into the WMR and share the document with partnering organizations.
Public interest in ways to mitigate wildlife mortality events has since increased. Natural Resources thus identified peer-reviewed articles and reports demonstrating best management practices for incorporating the WMR into actionable projects.
Natural Resources documented 1,159 wildlife mortality events on Sanibel’s roads from January 2022 to December 2024, and 441 year-to-date 2025 (through September). Hurricane Ian drastically impacted wildlife habitat and vehicle demographics (e.g., resident vs. visitor vs. contractor), making it challenging to distinguish storm-related changes from natural trends. Based on the current recovery status, 2024 and 2025 are more representative of complete datasets. Key findings from the WMR are as follows:
• Most Frequent Species – Eastern Screech Owl – 60 YTD (14%), 199 total (12%)
• Road with Most Incidents – Sanibel-Captiva Road – 147 YTD (33%), 570 total (36%)
• Based on the WMR, staff would recommend the deployment of wildlife crossing signage at the following locations:
• Sanibel Captiva Road (near Tarpon Bay Road 4-way stop)
• Sanibel Captiva Road (near Rabbit Road intersection)
• Sanibel Captiva Road (near Wulfert Road/Wildlife Drive access)
• Tarpon Bay Road (near entrance to Bailey Tract)
•City staff would also recommend further discussion on traffic-calming strategies at Sanibel Captiva Road at Legion Curve.
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