Discussion
Anyone else get upset/depressed by this? Driving to work today and I saw three different types of creature all dead on the road. Some looked almost peaceful, barely touched, but obviosuly dead, others were...well less so.
It was like the highway to hell, only a 4 mile trip to work, but it is a countryfied area.
It was like the highway to hell, only a 4 mile trip to work, but it is a countryfied area.
On a Yorkshire dawn raid I organised on last Sunday we had a pretty detrimental effect on local wildlife. The TR swallowed a house martin, the cerb took out two other small birds and the Z4 a larger one. I'm pretty sure a rabbit was added to the list too. I must have seen 20+ rabbits, squirrels etc already squashed too. It's not nice, but it's part of driving, esp in the countryside. I do however do everything I can to avoid hitting any animal I see in the road.
A deer was dead the other week on my route. Most wouldn't see it but as I cycle it was very evident.
Council failed to turn up to remove it after I reported it - one week later they finally turned up after a repeat call - by then it was smelling quite bad - right on a country footpath.
Sadly - about 15 years ago I took out a dog - 70mph - Alsation - missed its Crufts visit by one day. Owner had let the dog out and it had crossed the main road - ran back out from a hedge line and there was no time to even brake. Not my best moment.
Council failed to turn up to remove it after I reported it - one week later they finally turned up after a repeat call - by then it was smelling quite bad - right on a country footpath.
Sadly - about 15 years ago I took out a dog - 70mph - Alsation - missed its Crufts visit by one day. Owner had let the dog out and it had crossed the main road - ran back out from a hedge line and there was no time to even brake. Not my best moment.
I try to avoid them too, never hit anything I think, had some close calls but have managed to avoid the odd fox/rabbit. Have also stopped the car and gotten out to move whatever was dense enough to still be there hedgehog, ducklings crossing the road, dazed squirrel.
Just a nice sunny morning off to work, it's not a great way to start the day.
Just a nice sunny morning off to work, it's not a great way to start the day.
Can't really say it's upsetting just a fact of life that where there are roads there will be road-kill. I find it more "upsetting" (if that's the correct term) when you see something get hit which doesn't instantly kill it and the driver just continues. My children don't like drives in the country any more as it invarably involves me finishing off a pheasant or two with a golf club.
bmw535i said:
Interesting to know that very few badgers are road kill, but are placed at the side of the road after they have been pitted against a dog - badger baiting.
Same deal with hedgehogs. They put them up against rabbits in Somerset, sometimes three 'gainst one. Nasty business.Jasandjules said:
Yes, I get upset about it too. But then I take evasive action to not hit animals!
There are a few roads where I used to live (country lanes) which quite literally would have road kill about every 100 yards. Sometimes more.
My school mate, an excellent rally driver, was killed 20 years ago avoiding a rabbit that ran out. There are a few roads where I used to live (country lanes) which quite literally would have road kill about every 100 yards. Sometimes more.
DONT swerve to avoid an animal, (even a big one) just brake as hard as you can safely do so to give it a chance and hope.
I drove past what I thought was a freshly deaded baby rabbit a few months ago, but as I passed it I realised it was moving.
I went back and saw that the poor little thing seemed fine apart from not being able to move its back legs. It was trying to pull itself along with its little front ones.
I took it home in the van, and dropped it at the local vets, hoping it had just broken its legs. I asked them to let me know what happens and they called later that day to say it had a broken back so they had put it to sleep.
Spoiled my week
Edit: f
king Autocorrect
I went back and saw that the poor little thing seemed fine apart from not being able to move its back legs. It was trying to pull itself along with its little front ones.
I took it home in the van, and dropped it at the local vets, hoping it had just broken its legs. I asked them to let me know what happens and they called later that day to say it had a broken back so they had put it to sleep.
Spoiled my week
Edit: f
king AutocorrectEdited by SC7 on Thursday 30th June 22:07
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