How to Stop Avoidable Deaths

Careless or distracted driving, speeding, and heartless people who hit animals on purpose all combine to make roadways into killing corridors.

There's not much one who cares about animals can do about people who run over animals on purpose, unless you happen to witness it. You can capture a license plate and report the incident, but you’ll be lucky to get a prosecution. Proving intent can be problematic and sadly, even the popularity of the animal hit will come into play.

That leaves what we can do about our own driving and possibly our family and friends' driving habits, and how we can help animals who are injured. Driving slower, driving with more space between vehicles, not driving at night if you don't see well, and driving closer to the center of the road, away from the edges, all give you more opportunity to avoid animals. You can absolutely count on animals not being "where they should be" and they are almost always unexpected when in the road. It is up to us to expect them, especially near new developments and on new roads, and anywhere there is a lot of nature. Drive always as though one may be just around the corner or about to jump in the road, because they may well be.

Finally, do what you'd want someone to do if you were laying in the road. Safely find a place to stop and check the victim. In the spring, female opossums are carrying their babies, and someone who hits and kills one is just as likely to have hit and killed a whole family. In a case we attended to this week, a mother and four of her dead babies were removed from the road, while two more dead babies were pulled from her torn-up body by one of our staff members. Tragically, all were dead, but this is not always the case. Check “road kill” and you could save lives.

Learn where your local wildlife rehabilitation center or person resides and what hours you can bring injured wildlife. Keep food, water, blankets, and a box or carrier in your car. Remember, most people don't really care about animals enough to do anything. Don't be that person. Be the exception. The world will never change unless those of us who are upset about animal suffering act on our emotions.

Thanks for caring.