Lorraine Williamson
Wild boar snuffling at the roadside. Roe deer darting across a quiet country lane. These aren’t rare sights in Spain’s countryside — but increasingly, they’re ending in smashed bumpers, injured drivers, and in some cases, tragic loss of life.
The number of road accidents involving animals in Spain has doubled over the past decade. In 2024 alone, more than 36,000 crashes were linked to animals — up from just over 17,000 in 2013. And while most don’t lead to serious harm, the sheer volume means risk is mounting fast.
Spain’s rural roads: the new frontline
The vast majority of these accidents — 98% — happen away from the motorways, on national and local roads that slice through farmland, woodland, and rural terrain. These are roads with little to no animal protection infrastructure. They’re also where drivers are less likely to expect a sudden dash of antlers or paws.
Almost one in three road accidents in Spain now involves an animal. It’s a startling statistic — and one that places particular pressure on regions like Galicia, Castile and León, and Castile-La Mancha, where wildlife habitats border fast-moving routes.
Wild boar on the beach?
Topping the list are wild boar, involved in over 40% of all cases. And it’s not just rural roads where they’re making an appearance. In recent years, entire families of boar have been filmed by locals and tourists roaming urban streets, rummaging through bins, or even trotting along the beach in search of food.
From Marbella to Tarragona, videos of wild boar snuffling through seaside resorts, housing estates, and shopping car parks have become commonplace on Spanish social media. These animals — once shy forest dwellers — are growing bolder, driven by shrinking habitats, accessible waste, and human food sources.
Part of the problem lies in ongoing urban development. As towns and cities expand further into natural terrain, the buffer between wildlife and residential zones gets thinner. The result? More interactions — and more conflict — between drivers and displaced animals.
Who — or what — is causing the crashes?
Wild boar account for the lion’s share, but roe deer follow closely, involved in around 32% of incidents. Dogs make up about 8%, with the remainder including foxes, badgers, and even stray cattle. Autumn and winter see the highest number of collisions, often due to lower visibility and increased animal movement during breeding or hunting seasons.
Though fatalities are still relatively rare — eight deaths were recorded in 2024 — the danger is growing. And with more footage showing animals venturing into human spaces, concern is no longer confined to rural communities.
Government steps in: mapping danger zones and tech trials
With animal-related crashes no longer isolated incidents, the Spanish government is stepping up. In 2024, it rolled out a new system of TEFIVA routes — officially designated high-risk stretches where collisions with animals are common. These routes are flagged for priority upgrades, clearer warning signage, and ongoing monitoring.
At the same time, the Ministry for Ecological Transition is leading the SAFE Project, a nationwide initiative that maps roadkill incidents using crowdsourced data. Volunteers across Spain track animal casualties to identify blackspots, feeding into a central database that informs future road design, mitigation strategies, and conservation efforts.
Smarter systems, safer roads?
Spain’s traffic authority, the DGT, is also experimenting with more high-tech deterrents. Through its DGT 3.0 platform, drivers can receive live alerts via their GPS or apps when entering a zone where animals are known to cross. On some routes, LED signs flash when motion is detected, while thermal imaging sensors and cameras are being tested in key locations.
One of the more curious tools? Vallas perfumadas — scent fences soaked in pheromones designed to repel animals from venturing near traffic.
But the DGT is also looking at the human factor. Behavioural campaigns are underway to increase awareness, particularly in rural and forest-adjacent areas. Drivers are urged to slow down, stay alert, and understand that wildlife movements are often seasonal — and often sudden.
Beyond tech: nature-friendly road design
Despite the high-tech push, experts say nothing beats smart infrastructure. Fencing remains the most effective way to prevent animals from reaching roads in the first place — but it’s only part of the equation.
Ecological crossings — such as tunnels and overpasses built specifically for wildlife — are becoming more common, especially in newly upgraded road networks. Escape routes allow trapped animals to exit safely. And warning signs, when consistently used and clearly visible, do save lives.
Spain is also working with ecologists to ensure that road development aligns with natural habitats rather than dividing them. Protecting biodiversity, after all, can’t come after a crash — it has to be built into the blueprint.
The road ahead: can coexistence be engineered?
Spain’s rise in animal-related road crashes reflects a wider European trend. As rural roads expand and animal populations shift, the boundaries between nature and infrastructure blur.
With wild boar strolling through suburbia and deer leaping across highways, the challenge is no longer just about protecting drivers — it’s about redesigning the relationship between people and the wild. Through smarter roads, better planning, and ecological respect, Spain may yet find a safer, more balanced path forward.
Source: 20 minutos