Drivers are hitting kangaroos, wombats, dogs or other animals at least once a day in the bush capital, new data shows.
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Drivers lodged 435 claims with NRMA Insurance for animal-related crashes in the ACT last year.
The worst hot spots for wildlife crashes were identified as Belconnen, with 23 strikes, Hume, with 21, Woden, with 12, and Gungahlin and Calwell, with 11 crashes each.
NRMA Insurance head of research Robert McDonald said the number of animal collisions on the ACT's roads had reduced steadily over recent years.
The most common animals being hit on the ACT's roads were kangaroos, wombats, dogs and cats, Mr McDonald said.
"It's always a challenge in Canberra because you've got such a big city so close to a rural environment," he said.
"Emotionally, dealing with [hitting wildlife], especially for non-rural people, dealing with an injured animal can be quite distressing and really difficult for people who don't know what to do," he said.
Mr McDonald said the full extent of animal-related collisions would not be reflected by the number of insurance claims, as claims were only made in cases of substantial damage.
Most wildlife injured in the ACT is looked after by the RSPCA, with the exception of kangaroos, which are the responsibility of government rangers.
RSPCA data shows that car strikes were the biggest cause of injury to wildlife, followed by cat or dog attacks.
The organisation cared for 2786 native wild animals during 2010-11, which was 12 per cent less than last year. The majority of wildlife, or 1612 animals, were euthanased on humane grounds due to injury or disease.
The RSPCA released 697 animals back into the wild, but 407 animals died as a result of their injuries.
RSPCA chief executive officer Michael Linke said kangaroos were the most common native animal involved in crashes. But he said wombats were also at high risk of being hit, and were hard to see for motorists. "We had a very large wombat hit by the car a few weeks ago, a 60 kilogram wombat."
Mr McDonald said drivers who hit wildlife should stop and move it to the side of the road, if safety permits.
He said those who hit wildlife in the ACT can call RSPCA ACT Wildlife on 6287 8113 or the police.
