Animal-vehicle collisions occur daily on roads around the world, putting drivers and passengers at risk of trauma and death. There is limited routine information about the incidence of such collisions and their resultant trauma and healthcare burden in Australia. Without this information it is difficult to quantify the magnitude of the problem, identify contributing factors or prioritise potential solutions. One source of data is the Traffic Accident Database System of NSW that is maintained by the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority. We queried this database for crashes involving animals in NSW over ten years from 1996 to 2005. In this paper we summarise the temporal and spatial patterns that emerge from these crashes and use the findings to highlight the ramifications for those seeking preventative solutions. We advocate a strategic cross-sectoral approach to understanding animal-vehicle crashes, particularly for improving the health status of our rural communities.