I've been doing a lot more driving around lately and as a consequence, I've seen a lot more dead animals in the road or beside it. Each time I pass one, I say a little prayer for its soul and send a wish for its peace and happiness in whatever comes next.
Friday, I saw a dead raccoon while driving home from running a lot of errands. It got me to thinking that it is the invention of the wheel along with the internal combustion engine that is responsible for so many dead animals. Wheels by themselves might not be such a problem. It is speed that makes wheels so dangerous.
If we were all plodding along in horse drawn wagons at a horse's pace, all those squirrels and coyotes and raccoons and rabbits and snakes and quail you get the idea might not be dead. Then it occurred to me that maybe we are just in an interim period between thoughtlessly killing animals and not killing them. Forget the thoughtlessly part. It seems to me that too many people are too distracted to care and the cynical part of me doesn't see that changing any time soon. But perhaps in the future our vehicles will no longer have wheels to crush and maim the poor unwitting animals with which we share this earth. And believe me when I say that I have never thought that we have more right to it than they do or that what we do is more important than their lives. Possibly sometime in the future, vehicles will float above the road, or there won't be roads at all, and we will not kill innocent animals with our desire to get wherever we are going faster and faster.
The residential area where I live has a maximum speed limit of 25 miles per hour. Most people studiously ignore it. I know this because I do not and they ride my rear bumper like I am obeying the law just to annoy them. I am not. I drive slowly to better avoid hitting animals. I hit a quail once not too long ago and I have absolutely no desire to do it again.
Even at 25 miles per hour, it is difficult to avoid the rabbit that darts out suddenly (so far I've been lucky). And if a quail runs into the road in front of you, you had better slow down because they always come in pairs, husband and wife mated for life. Also, this time of year, there is sure to be a string of tiny quail close behind them.
I don't know what the answer is. I appreciate as much as the next person my ability to travel quickly from place to place. I once told my husband that I thought animal road crossing tunnels should be built. That food should be put at each end in order to entice the animals into them and get them accustomed to the idea of using them. What you could do for the reptiles I just don't know.
Some people have argued to me that eventually only animals that do not cross roads will exist survival of the fittest, or smartest, and all that. That eventually, it will be hard-wired genetically into them not to cross roads. But that would seem to me to severely limit their range and mating possibilities (considering the human penchant for building more and more roads) and that sooner or later they would become so inbred as to no longer be viable. Or that they may die out all together. For me, a world without animals in it would be a very sad place. And if that is the course we are on, then I am glad I will not live to see it.
Slow down! Pay attention! Obey the law! It might save more than just human lives.
Dianne Lehmann is a jewelry designer who has been in business since January of 2000. Her interest in designing and manufacturing jewelry goes back beyond that to 1994. It took her many years of trying various creative outlets to finally figure out that making jewelry is where she could really shine. Dianne began with simply stringing beads onto cable and has progressed from there. She is now an accomplished lapidary (cuts and polishes stones) and silversmith. Dianne and her husband, Bernd, live in northern Arizona and both love to hike. Dianne can not help but pick up rocks (they are her first love) and some of these find their way into her jewelry. Dianne makes one-of-a-kind pieces that she hopes give people as much joy to view as she gets from the making of them.If you like, you may view her work at http://www.syzygyjewelry.com
HI Dianne, I love your idea of animal tunnels. We need them here in the country. Lots of dead dear. I almost hit one - they dart out right in front of you sometimes. I think the only answer is as you said, slow down and pay attention. Many times this accidents can be avoided. Thanks for the reminder, not to mention, it's nice to avoid a speeding ticket. Love you! Teresa
Around here the deer are most active between about 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. When I was the closing manager at a Wendy's in town, I used to see them a lot on my way home. Now I'm soundly (hopefully) asleep between those hours. I would hate to hit a deer ... on a number of levels.
We've had a number of photo-radar "traps" go up in recent years in our area. It has actually slowed people down a bit. But they don't put those things in residential areas. Oh well.
Thanks for reading. You know I love hearing from you.
i feel the same way about not going so fast you can't stop for an animal, although sometimes, it is just not possible. we were taught in driver's ed, some 30 something years ago, that if it was safe to avoid ther animal, to do so, but if there was an oncoming car, or an enbankment, etc., then the poor thing was a goner.
i've been lucky in my 36 years of driving, but for some reason, i can see animals from afar, and avoid them.
I realize that sometimes avoiding hitting an animal just is not possible. The quail I hit was sitting (apparently) right next to the road in some weeds for which it was perfectly camouflaged. It darted out right in front of me and my reaction time was way too slow; even for 25 mph. You are lucky to never have hit an animal.
» left by Avis Ward from SC (123 days 10 hours ago.)
Dianne, maybe this article will be an inducement for us to slow down to avoid roadkill. It's been years ago but I wept periodically throughout the day after hitting a squirrel. As I looked in my rear view mirror, its mate was circling the dying squirrel's body frantically. It tore my heart out. This is a heartwarming article in support of the least of these in God's creation. I support you! Well-said, Dianne! Respond to this comment
The quail I hit shook me up so badly that I had to pull over off of the road and just sit for a bit until I could drive again. The people who passed by me probably thought I was nuts because I was pounding on my steering wheel and saying "No, no, no," over and over.
We get a lot of toads coming out during the monsoon. Mostly they sit in the road in the evening because the road is still warm. You have to weave your way along at about 10 mph if you don't want to squash them. We see a lot of squished toads when we take our walks. Sometimes I wish I knew why this is such a hot issue for me.
Anyway, it is good to hear from you and I hope that all things are going well for you.
Dianne, I was torn between turning around and going forward. Couldn't help it but I got a visual of Nancy Kerrigan after Tanya Harding had someone hit her in the knees during a competition. Her famous and memorable cry, "Why, why, whyyyyy!" Sorry, but I giggled.
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