Road Kill

Thump, bump, crunch!

Road Kill.

This time of year can be extremely rough on the wildlife in our area.

Just driving around Savannah, I have seen all kinds of unfortunate critters who have met their demise by automobile. Many roads are increasingly littered with dead and dying opossums, raccoons, squirrels and deer.

It's one of the biggest threats to wildlife: the road.

But it's also a danger to people too.

Deer-auto collisions cause an average of $2000 in damage per accident, and nationwide kill between 130 and 210 people a year.

So why is it happening?
Some experts say it's the ever-expanding web of highways and roads. They say this reduces and often degrades habitat. Animals must either risk their lives to maintain their territory or hunker down in smaller spaces, straining resources, limiting movement for mating and constraining young animals looking for new territory.

Others say...it is LITTER.
Have you ever tossed an apple core, banana peel or other food item out of your car, figuring it's biodegradable and might provide some much-needed food for a hungry animal? If you havent, chances are that you know someone who has.

And then there are those who throw out half-eaten happy meals...or anything else that might stink up the car.

Well, guess what? Animals like food. And they'll often go to where they can find it easiest. Since some roadsides look like All You Can Eat Buffets, we end up with increased roadkill.

So don't litter, period...even with food scraps.

And here are a few other things you can do to avoid hitting an animal.
1. Slow down. If you slow down, this will mean that you are more in control when you come across an animal. This will also give the animal more time to respond.

2. Honk your horn. This will scare animals off the road. Make sure the animal is way off the road before you pass it.

3. If you hit an animal or encounter an injured animal, please stop only if it's absolutely safe for you to do so. Wildlife can be aggressive when scared or injured. It's best to call an expert.