On Friday of last week, I ran over a dead animal. I'm not sure what it was, as it was very early and dark outside, and I was traveling at about 70 mph. Thus, I only got a glimpse of the thing before I was driving over it. Whatever it was, it was large (and solid) enough that when both left tires went over it, they were lifted up off the pavement. It was a jarring experience, in more ways than one.
My drive home today was just as, if not more disturbing, though in a different way. I'm sure if a bunch of animals died over the weekend, over if I am now hyperaware of them, but I saw a significant increase in the amount of roadkill today. Most likely, it is a combination of the two. I can say with certainty that at least three of them were new; you don't just forget about a large red splatter on the road, right in front of a large lump of fur-covered meat lying right in the middle of the road! Just angle gently off to the side - don't swerve! There were TWO of those on my drive home today. There was a third furry meat-lump, but that one had (apparently) been knocked off to the side, rather than the middle. None of these three were there on Friday.
None of them. They were new.
Natural selection at work. Animals that are too slow/stupid/sickly/whatever to get out of the way are run down. They will not be reproducing any time soon (or ever).
It's still disturbing to see the aftermath.
I try to tell myself that this is nature's way, just given a new twist by mankind.
It doesn't help.
Apparently, there used to be a position of roadkill-collector. Someone would drive around and collect the animal carcasses lying by (or on) the road. But at some point, there wasn't money in the budget for it, and the position was eliminated.
After a drive like today, I'd be willing to chip in a few dollars to bring the job back.
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