Petition launched to decrease wildlife deaths on busy Dorset road

A self confessed 'crazy badger lady' is calling on people to sign a petition to help protect wildlife in Dorset.

Dawn who moved to Weymouth from Yorkshire four years ago explained that since moving to the seaside town, she had 'never seen so many dead animals on the side of the road.'

She has now started an online petition, calling on the government to stop wildlife dying on the A35 in Dorset.

Dawn is hoping that this may be able to be achieved through installing fences at the side of roads that go through woodlands and forests, more warning signs alerting drivers of the wildlife, signs informing motorists how many deaths there have been on the road and specialist animal bridges and crossings.

The wildlife lover said: " It's so so sad to see an animal lying at the side of the road. I love all animals so I felt as though I had to do something. A lot of these animals probably die a slow and painful death.

"We need more warning signs similar to what we have for bikers."

 Dawn is part of a local wildlife group and keeps tabs on the number of crashes involving animals.

Between May 31, 2025 and June 25, 2025, she revealed that almost 30 animals were killed as a result of being hit by a vehicle in Dorset.

• May 2025 - A35 Towards Poole - Two deer

• May 2025 - A35 west from Dorchester - Winterbourne Abbas where the road goes through the woodland, several dead deer

• June 2025 - A35 eastbound before Troytown, three dead badgers

• June 2025 - A31 eastbound before Ferndown turn off, one dead badger

• June 2025 - A350 westbound by Speitsbury, one dead badger

• June 2025 - A35 eastbound, Weymouth, two deer

• June 2025 - Dead fox

• 25 June 2025 - Four dead badgers

Her petition needs a total of 10,000 signatures to get the petition recognised by parliament.

The petition has only been live for a couple of days and at the time of writing has gained a total of 220 signatures.

Dawn added: "I do fight for things if I can. It is a huge problem. I went to Wales a couple of weeks ago and didn't see a single dead animal on the side of the road."

According to the deer society, although exact figures are unknown it is estimated that annually the number of deer killed or injured on UK roads is likely to exceed 40,000 and may well be nearer 74,000.

To sign the petition, visit: https://tinyurl.com/33vx6cr4.