Tasmanian devils can't be taught road safety, so the state government is pleading with drivers to be on the lookout for the critters, after the deaths of more animals which were part of a healthy breeding program.
Eight days after 39 healthy devils were released into the wild, Environment Minister Matthew Groom on Thursday confirmed four of them are dead after being hit by vehicles on roads.
"In most circumstances road kill deaths are entirely preventable if drivers just slow down," Mr Groom said.
The group were released onto a quarantined peninsula in the state's southeast, which is free from the debilitating facial tumour disease which has reduced the carnivore's numbers by more than 80 per cent.
"The Tasmanian devil is already under threat from facial tumour disease, the last thing we need to do is put further strain on this iconic Tasmanian species through avoidable deaths on our roads," Mr Groom said.
Despite the deaths, the trials of the tagged animals are showing encouraging results, researchers said.
"I share the frustrations of so many scientists in Tasmania and around the world who are working on saving the devil only to see their hard work affected by deaths which in most circumstances are entirely avoidable," the minister said.
Devils are scavengers and often wander onto roads to feed on road kill where they too become victims.
"For the sake of the devil, if you see roadkill, slow down," Mr Groom said.
"If you're driving between dusk and dawn, slow down. If you see a devil, slow down.
"While it's unfortunately inevitable that some devils will be run over, we are all responsible for helping the devil population to recover and I again urge motorists to play their part."
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