Those who drive America's Interstates know that any wild mammal that they see along the highway is far more likely to be dead than alive. The most common victims are deer, raccoons, opossums and a host of small mammals; however, on my trip to Colorado this week, I saw at least six coyotes among the roadkill. And just yesterday morning, a trucker plowed into a herd of elk in the Front Range foothills, killing sixteen of those magnificent animals; fortunately, early reports indicate that the driver was not seriously injured.
Almost all of these mammal-vehicle collisions occur at night, when the animals are most active and when visibility is limited. Many, if not most, Americans may be unmoved by these events, pointing out that these common creatures would otherwise be contributing to the destruction of residential or agricultural plants. Then again, the wild mammal is not always the only victim of these collisions, especially when deer, elk, moose or other large species are involved. It seems to me that efforts to reduce these unfortunate events are warranted; a lower night speed limit in high risk areas would be a start.
Many Americans would probably label this piece as foolhardy ecodribble from an over zealous conservationist; I plead guilty! But roadkill is just one more way in which humans have a negative impact on natural ecosystems. Besides, we are all hurtling toward death and there's no reason to shorten the process.
