giving wildlife a brake
You've probably seen your fill of roadkill through the Summer and now into the Fall. I always wince when I do, whether along a country road or sometimes up against an interstate median: sometimes a small mammal, sometimes a deer, and sometimes even someone's dog or cat. Each one must have been utterly terrified in its final moments, and who knows how long some suffer in agony after pulling themselves off to the side.
I was uspet enough at myself when I felt a sudden bump under my own car a number of years back, one dark Summer's night along a winding back road, no doubt going faster than I should have. Looking behind me, it was a small animal of some sort, and I didn't have the heart (or the courage) to go back and find out. But I will never, ever forget a crisp December night coming up on four years ago when I brought about the end of a beautiful, young doe, on the same stretch of road no less.
I was coming back from working on one of the last of many final seminary papers for the semester, hoping to finish it off when I got home. Thankfully, for my own conscience's sake, I wasn't going very fast, though I was so tired I worried that I had been fiddling with the radio station too long, trying to find a basketball game. I honestly don't think I was. But it was very dark, and with a dip in a short stretch of road, when I came up to the top of the small hill, there the doe was in the literal blink of an eye. My heart lept into my throat as she lept in front of my headlights one half-second, and then slid up my hood and bounced off of my windshield like a ping pong ball the next.
I came to a virtually immediate dead stop, and I'll never shake the image of her dragging herself to the side of the road, collapsing, and then trying to pull her shattered back half a little further away when I got out of my car and hesitantly approached. I don't believe I've ever seen a creature of any kind so terrified. She was completely helpless of course, and breathing so heavily. I didn't know what to say, think or do, except to call the police. A kind stranger had pulled up behind me, and waited with me until the cop came, at least thirty minutes later. I foolishly asked if there was nowhere she could be taken to be rehabilitated, knowing the answer. There was nothing to be done except to put her out of her misery, he said. And between three jarring shots from a gun, which he admitted was too small for the job (but still apparently standard issue), I saw her bloody head spasm and flop, only to quiver yet again.
I often wish we could protect our wildlife, and sometimes our pets, much more from this awful fate. It seems so unnecessary in a modern society, but most solutions to the problem seem impossibly ideal and energy- and resource-consuming, and far from a priority in our bottom line world which always demands the newest roads and subdivisions, wherever they may fall.
In the meantime, though, I know I'm not the only one who feels the pangs of regret whenever I pass another lifeless huddle by the side of the road, or am responsible for one myself. The Humane Society of the United States specifically has been designating the last week of October 'Give Wildlife a Brake Week' for the past few years at least.
In "Drivers: Please Give Wildlife a Brake," Susan Hagood, wildlife issues specialist for the HSUS, says that deer are most vulnerable to being hit from now until December, due to mating season being at its peak and driving after dark being more common. The press release also informs that wildlife in general are very active during this stretch: "Accidental collisions involving large animals such as deer draw the most attention, but other accidents regularly occur as drivers swerve to avoid smaller animals such as squirrels, raccoons and even dogs and cats."
The Humane Society advises to slow down and to be especially aware at dawn and dusk, as well as on "two-lane roads bordered by natural habitat" (which is where my accidents occurred). They also say to watch for animals in groups, and of course to never throw trash along the road, which can attract animals.
(image copyright Andreas Gradin & 123rf.com; originally posted on 11/01/09)
Ben DeVries
Susan Hagood has also allowed us to share her excellent article "Road Runners: The Deadly Fall Ritual of Animals Crossing Roads," which contains much more advice on making an effort to avoid hitting wildlife, as well as what to do if an accident still occurs or you come across a wounded animal by the side of the road. And Stephanie Muzekari has written a poignant personal reflection on passing a struck deer with her children, "Shelter."
Reader Comments (9)
Thank you so much, Ben, for this post and taking time to draw attention to this issue. Dark, country roads exist everywhere and I, too, am saddened every time I see 'road-kill' (which is often in this season). It absolutely seems unnecessary and a waste of life that would not be if people did not demand so many more roads and time saved by driving way over the limit. Soapbox aside, I'm grateful for any attempts for more awareness.
Your deer story reminded me of something that happened this summer on my street. One night I saw a flash of a light colored cat running through the lawn at our apartment complex; three days later I saw a similarly colored lump in the middle of the road down the street from our apartment. I was quite distraught even though I knew it wasn't my fault, but I felt like I maybe could have done something to prevent it. Not likely, but I try to drive more cautiously at night especially in areas surrounded by woods.
Rosie, thanks much for your comment, and the support on the issue. I can relate a bit to your story about the cat … When I lived in a small lake town in northern Illinois called Antioch, I used to see cats along the two-lane road running through town all the time, and it made me cringe each time. I’m sorry about the cat you saw, and the impact it made on you. You have such a kind heart …
Ben
Ah.. but you should have gone back -- human fear lasts for a short while, and human courage is born out of fear -- pain, fear and suffering in the part of the injured animal usually last much much longer. Once I stopped to help rescue a guy who had almost pancaked his car (all the windows flew out and the gas tank became airborne) when he flipped lhis car late at night and ended up in someone's plowed field. I said to mysef-- "Am I gonna throw up when I see the condition he's in?" and I answered myself "If I throw up then I won't need to throw up again, and I'll be able to help him." I did not puke but that guy got badly-needed help not only from me, but from others who had also pulled over on that lonely country road.
I have been known to get off a highway exit, double back and retrace my route to se if an animal lying by the side of the road is really dead or is "merely" injured. Sometimes paople pass by animals in a ditch, thinking they are dead, when in reality that animal has been there for DAYS, in pain. In two instances that i am aware of, the animal in the ditch -- one a cat, the other a dog WAS rehabilitated and became someone's pet -- all beacuse a member of ManKIND had the heart and courage to pull over and check on this animal lying in the ditch. while dozens, if not hundreds of other people SAW the animal and drove right by it in the heat, cold and rain.
Do you want to know MORE about this? Visit the excellent Sunbear Squad website for information on a Roadside Rescue Kit:
http://www.sunbearsquad.org/roadside.shtml
PS -- NEVER try to approach a deer or large mammal to try to help -- call the authorities -- a deer, can kick and even gore with vicious and fatal force -- while injured and even right after it is dead -- due to the nerve reflex.
PS--For anyone out there who has some clout, or say-so with your department of highways, check out these two excellent publications - BOTH of which have detailed information on how governments in the US and other countries have created byways for animals to safely cross under or over highways to keep from getting killed.
"Critter Crossings": this is an online hand-book which you can print and distribute if you wish:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/wildlifecrossings/
AND
"Keeping It Simple: Easy Ways to Protect Wildlife Along Roads "
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/wildlifeprotection/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewComing
(Look at the left side of the above web site for MUCH more life-saving information. I believe you can order (for free) this publication.
To Rosie -- Thank you for caring about that light colored kitty -- too bad there are little or no ordinances for keeping one's cat safely indoors. I grieve with you too -- what a terrible waste of an innocent life.
If you see more cats loose in your neighborhood you may be seeing feral or abandoned cats-- find out (google) who responsibly does Trap Neuter and Return (TNR) in your area, and please contact them. Do not contact the local shelter-- they will kill the cat if it is feral (or even if it's tame if no one claims it, you know what will happen to it....)
BTW -- Alley Cat Allies
http://www.alleycat.org
is a national organization that brought the TNR concept to the US 20 years ago -- saving millions of innocent lives.
Ace, thank you for your comments, and all the resources. This post originally went up a year ago, so the other commenter Rosie might not see your follow-up. I admire greatly your conscientiousness and compassion when it comes to making sure people and animals in accidents are ok. You're right, it does take courage and initiative to get past the initial shock of it all, and get into help mode. Thanks for the reminder and encouragement - Ben
Ace, your kind, compassionate, conscientious comments live up to your name.
Thanks everyone for your kind words. Well if Rosie does not see this then truly "soul speaks to soul" and I am sure the right words or information may come her way should she desire to help other kitties avoid the fate like the one she saw.
I wish I had huge arms to reach out and hold the animals away from harm. But truly, we are all doing what we can to help the animals. Grateful for everyone who cares.
Well said, Ace, I'm grateful for your deep concern and care for animals as well - Ben