National Roadkill Day
September 25
About National Roadkill Day
National Roadkill Day is an American observance held on 25 September that raises awareness of the millions of animals killed on roads each year, while also highlighting the value of roadkill as a no-waste food source. In 2026 it falls on Friday, 25 September. It blends wildlife road-safety awareness with a long-running American tradition of using game meat that would otherwise go to waste.
How to Mark National Roadkill Day
The day can be observed seriously, as a road-safety and conservation cause, or in the spirit of the quirky food festivals it has inspired. Here are some ways to take part.
- Drive more carefully near wildlife – Slow down at dawn and dusk and in areas with animal crossing signs, when animals are most active and collisions most likely.
- Learn the local crossing hotspots – Find out where wildlife regularly crosses near you and take extra care on those stretches of road.
- Support wildlife crossings – Wildlife bridges and underpasses dramatically cut collisions. Backing schemes that build them helps both animals and drivers.
- Report injured animals – Keep the number of a local wildlife rescue or animal welfare group to hand so you can help an injured animal you find at the roadside.
- Learn the law on salvage – In many parts of the United States it is legal to collect roadkill for food. Find out the rules where you live before doing so.
- Cook with game meat – For the adventurous, the day is associated with cooking wild game such as venison, a sustainable and traditional source of protein.
- Visit a roadkill cook-off – Festivals such as the famous West Virginia event turn the theme into a community celebration of game cooking.
- Spread the word – Share road-safety tips and wildlife awareness with friends and on social media to help reduce collisions.
What is National Roadkill Day?
National Roadkill Day is an observance with two distinct sides. The first is awareness: roads take a heavy toll on wildlife, and the day encourages drivers to be more careful and to support measures that reduce animal deaths on the road. The second is sustainability: in much of the United States it is legal to collect roadkill, and the day highlights game meat as an immediate, no-waste food resource. It is a day that sits somewhere between a conservation cause and a quirky celebration of rural food traditions.
When is National Roadkill Day?
National Roadkill Day is observed on 25 September every year. In 2026 that date falls on a Friday. As a fixed-date observance, it always lands on 25 September regardless of the day of the week.
The History of National Roadkill Day
The precise origins of National Roadkill Day are not firmly documented, and sources offer differing accounts of when and by whom it was founded. Some link it to conservation and environmental groups seeking to draw attention to the impact of roads on wildlife, while others connect it to the no-waste food movement and the long tradition of salvaging game meat. Given this uncertainty, it is most honest to say the day’s exact beginnings are unclear.
What is well documented is the culture that surrounds it. Long before the calendar date became established, communities had been celebrating game cooking in their own way. The most famous example is the West Virginia Roadkill Cook-Off in Marlinton, an autumn festival that has run for more than three decades, drawing crowds of around 20,000 and attracting coverage from the Food Network. Competitors cook dishes from animals commonly involved in road collisions, such as deer, opossum, and squirrel, though the ingredients need not be literal roadkill.
That blend of conservation awareness and rural food tradition is what gives the day its unusual character. If you are drawn to days that celebrate wildlife, you might also like World Gorilla Day, which raises awareness of one of the world’s most endangered animals.
Fun Facts About National Roadkill Day
- It is legal to collect roadkill for food in the large majority of US states, subject to state and local laws.
- The West Virginia Roadkill Cook-Off in Marlinton has run for over 30 years and draws around 20,000 visitors.
- The Food Network has featured the West Virginia cook-off several times, boosting its national fame.
- Cook-off dishes have included bear wontons, turtle stew, and opossum.
- The day carries a double meaning, combining wildlife road-safety awareness with no-waste food.
- Venison is one of the most common and sustainable game meats associated with the day.
Why National Roadkill Day Matters
Behind the quirky reputation sits a serious message. Vehicle collisions kill a vast number of wild animals every year and pose a real danger to drivers too. The day encourages safer driving and support for wildlife crossings, while also making the case that animals killed on the road need not be wasted. Taken together, it is a thought-provoking prompt about how we share the landscape with wildlife.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Roadkill Day?
It is an American observance on 25 September that raises awareness of wildlife killed on roads and highlights roadkill as a no-waste food resource. It mixes a conservation message with rural food tradition.
When is National Roadkill Day in 2026?
It falls on Friday, 25 September 2026. The date is fixed at 25 September every year.
Is it legal to collect roadkill?
In much of the United States it is legal to collect roadkill for food, subject to state and local laws. You should always check the specific rules in your area first.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing road-safety and wildlife messages on social media with #NationalRoadkillDay and #NationalRoadkillDay2026. Whether you focus on safer driving or sustainable game cooking, every bit of awareness helps.
Related Awareness Days
- World Gorilla Day – Raises awareness of the threats facing one of the world’s most endangered species.
- National Schnauzer Day – A celebration of a much-loved dog breed.
- World Water Monitoring Day – Encourages people to protect their local natural environment.
Links
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