Just a quick reference. I live on a route 66, just not the cool one. This is Arkansas highway 66 but it looked good in the title to steal a little thunder. Now to the murder.
The other morning as I was thinking about my breakfast, I looked out to see what kind of day was waiting for me. What I saw shocked me for there lying in the ditch between my fence and the aforementioned highway 66 lay a naked, very pregnant, obviously dead female. Awww damn.
Should say here that it was a deer not a human though it still hurt my animal loving heart. My was she pregnant. Sadly she looked almost asleep. She was obviously a hit and run victim. I imagine who ever hit her is facing a stiff repair bill and hopefully no one was hurt--besides Bambi and baby.
This was the first large animal kill in front of my house so I wasn't sure what to do. We had been having temperatures over a hundred for two weeks in a row and that day was to be no different. I didn't want to think about the smell that I am sure would find its way into my home.
Taking a stab, I contacted the Dept. of Transportation and yes, they do remove dead animals. They gave me a number for my county, I called and they said they would get right on it. I am here to tell you that "right on it" was the truth. It wasn't 30 minutes before the body disappeared. I didn't hear them, nor did Callie. It was just done. It was really fortunate they removed her for that day we reached our hottest day of 105.
I am still a little sad for that poor animal that was murdered in front of my home but I am glad all traces are gone. Now though, I give a curious look at cars I notice with crumpled front ends. I've seen two so far. Again I hope they weren't hurt anymore than financially.
Did you know DOT removed carcasses from the roadside? I didn't and was really impressed with their speed. Hope you never need that info but you can file it away just in case.
Oddly two days after the removal, we got a break in the weather. We have had daily rains--just gentle ones, not soakers. I can hear the grass growing. The temps have gentled down into the low to mid 80's. Next week will climb back into the mid nineties but that is a cakewalk compared to the past couple of weeks.
I hope you are also getting a break. If nothing else it has made me appreciate an average summer's day.
Stay cool and safe.
Very sad to read about that mama deer Patti, but at the same time it was nice to read such a positive reference towards a govt agency like the DOT. Y'know, I grew up in rural southwestern PA (where deer were in abundance and such accidents were pretty common). I will never forget one time in the car with my mom, we were coming home from Morgantown WV, on a busy highway with cars behind & in front of us--and on my side of the car, a deer was running alongside us. My mom was trying to drive one-handed without panicking, her right arm trying to protect me should we suddenly collide with the car in front. That deer suddenly leaped over the guardrail and out of sight, we came very close to being in a bad accident. We talked about it for years, "there but for the grace of God..." Hope you have a cooler, healthy week ahead my friend.
ReplyDeleteDoug,
DeleteIt was sad enough that she died but that she was so pregnant made it worse.
Wow, you and your Mom had a really scary and close encounter. So glad all of you were safe.
I knew that about DOT but here I don't think they respond as quickly. I suppose it matters how many calls they get and can keep up with. I'll bet that baby deer in the womb will end up in a jar some place. Very sad.
ReplyDeleteJean,
DeleteI hope the baby serves some purpose. I know when they are born, they are cat sized. Think this one was ready to drop. That part hurt.
I feel very sad for the loss of life, but I am also glad to learn that DOT does remove bodies quickly. :-(
ReplyDeleteDjan,
DeleteIt really was a pleasant surprise for me for I knew the heat would make my home unbearable with the smell.
Deer and cars don't mix very well, but unfortunately they tend to inhabit a lot of the same geography. At least they do here in the Northeast. We see dead deer by the roadside all the time. I never really thought about it; but I guess DOT takes care of the carnage.
ReplyDeleteTom,
DeleteI think here the DOT is so quick for we mostly have 2 lane, curvy highways and it could be a safety hazard what with looky loos and vultures.
Here we use animal control to contact. Sad to read about the loss tho.
ReplyDeleteAnni,
DeleteAt least you have a designated organization to do the sad deed.
It is a known hazard -- deer darting into the road -- around here. Just last week, on my way to the local library, I saw a dead doe right in the village. Always sad to see. What you really don't want to run into is moose. That wouldn't be a hit and run.
ReplyDeleteOlga,
DeleteYes it is sad but it does happen a lot. If you hit a moose, pretty sure it could total a car. Thank goodness we don't have any of those.
I live in a tiny town in a rural area. Across the road from my house is a large fenced property that used to be a nursery and landscaping business. A few years ago we awoke to see three dead deer lying just on the other side of their fence. We surmised they may have all hit the fence by accident, but even in these parts, three dead deer is unusual. We called the state but they don't pick up from private property but they advised that if the deer were moved to the state right-of-way they would gladly come get them. We called the property owners who some how were able to drag the very large animals outside their fence and the state picked them up promptly. I fact, in my state there is actually a program that pays for the processing of fresh roadkill deer and gives the meat to those in need.
ReplyDeleteBobi,
DeleteNow that was really unusual. Three at one time. Glad they were able to move the deer so they didn't have them decaying on their property. I know in Florida they Game and Fish guys would process the deer and donate the meat. That makes it not seem like such a waste.
That is so sad about the deer on the side of the road. I didn't know that you could call DOT and they would come and take the deer away. It is a relief that they would do that. I have seen deer crossing bridges built over highways especially for that purpose. I often wonder if deer figure that out and use them. That would be great.
ReplyDeleteRobin,
DeleteI have heard of those prescribed animal crossings and they really seem to work. They will make them over a highway and sometimes under. I love it when we go the extra mile for wildlife.
Awww..that's a real shame, sadly deer don't stand a chance against a vehicle. Last winter I was driving out to visit my daughter and saw a police car with its lights flashing on the side of the highway. Two officers were there dealing with a deer that had been badly injured but was still struggling in the deep snow. They were waiting for a break in traffic, but it was a heartbreaking scene.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found the proper authorities to remove the animal.
Eileen,
DeleteI have a horror of that. Not just hitting a deer but possibly not killing them out right and having to figure out how to humanely put them down. That had to have been so hard to see.
Municipal workers soon clear away vehicle killed wildlife here as well, Patti. I used to see plenty of road kill in the early morning as I'd drive to work. Sometimes I'd see crows dealing with the smaller bodies. 105 F in your area! Oh my gosh! I hope your home is keeping cool.
ReplyDeleteFlorence,
DeleteI see the crows too but I guess it is a safety hazard to let a larger carcass attract vultures. Many a windshield in Florida caught a buzzard. Neither survive.
Yes, my A/C is working wonderfully but when it gets over 100, I don't go out at all.
When you said "dead female," I thought "Oh no!" But, boy, even if it was a dead deer, how very sad. Our temp hits a high of 88 these days, so your 100+ temp must have been unbearable. However, your house has a/c, so not too bad for you.
ReplyDeletegigi,
DeleteYes I used a little poetic license to describe the body:) Those 100+ days were miserable but at least the A/C works perfectly. Don't know how people survive without it
In the hill country of Texas, deer do run out onto the roads. My daughter and granddaughter have both had this happen to them. Lucky for them only the cars were damaged, but the deer hardly ever survive. It's very upsetting... and sad.
ReplyDeleteRian,
DeleteI am sorry your family has had that happen but glad they are all right. It is rough on a car though. That is one reason I don't drive at night here. I can see fine but I dread hitting a deer.
I did not know about DOT animal removal. I wonder if it is the same in every state.
ReplyDeleteWe are ten degrees cooler today and are enjoying cool morning air coming through open windows.
Linda,
DeleteI didn't either and hopefully your state is the same.
Yes, isn't that cooler weather just devine?
Yes, hope the people in the car are okay. I am amazed how quickly DOT came and got it. In Virginia it seemed as if the cleanup crew were the vultures which were actually quite amazing themselves.
ReplyDeleteAnon,
DeleteIn Florida vultures did most of the clean up too but the highest reason for broken windshields was having such critters fly into your car. Hope that isn't a problem in Virginia.
Sad, but in some areas they're even culling deer because their numbers aren't permitting good survival. Guess you can think or pretend that they came out quickly to be able to have it processed for families in need. You could call to find out....I've known people who hit deer, and I almost hit one years ago. Another time, I was driving home in the dusk and saw a deer laying in the road, with only his head up. The cops were there, I think waiting for permission to put him out of his misery. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteLinda,
DeleteThat is my biggest fear. Not only killing a lovely creature and damaging my car but the horror would be if it didn't die right away. That would stay with me for a long time.
BTW, want to thank you for the tip about swallowing capsules to swirl them around in your mouth first. It gets them slippery, works great and is my new method. Thank you.
Poor deer and baby--I hope she didn't even know what had happened. I hate to think of an animal suffering. :( 105! I'm glad it's cooled down. We're into the mid 80s which feels very nice.
ReplyDeleteMargaret,
DeleteI know, I hope it was quick and final too. My biggest fear would be to hit one and have it only injured.
Dear Patti, your story reminded me of a poem by Karl Shapiro about a person driving at night--I think in New England somewhere--and hitting a deer. The poem is one that made me think so deeply when I first read it some 65 years ago. (I wish I remembered its title.) The poet used the accident to ruminate on guilt and innocence. A truly thought-provoking poem.
ReplyDeleteAs to your weather, we, too, have had high temperatures, though not quite as high as yours. It's the heat index that is really doing us in. Currently, it's 95 degrees air temperature but it feels like 104 due to humidity.
Thanks, Patti, for leaving a comment on my r recent blog. Peace, pressed down and flowing within you and all whom you meet. Dee Ready
Dee,
DeleteThanks, I will Google Karl Shapiro to see if I can find it. I know for me killing such a beautiful animal would have a huge impact.
Hope you have air conditioning to combat the high temps. Stay safe and cool.
OH I so don't like seeing this. It's happened to me once and Izzy was probably a 2 yr old pup. When we came upon the deer she did not wish to leave it's side I really had to force her home. It broke my heart. We called animal control to take care of the poor thing. We had a 2 seater thunderbird convertable. As we rounded a corner we saw a dog chasing a deer come shooting out from the woods and that deer hit our front bumper and flew over us and I felt it go over my head. It was so awful. We pulled over to see if he/she was alright. By the time we got close to the deer she was up and took off. Whew. Our car didn't do as well!
ReplyDeleteWe got a break from the 100s today but all next week is supposed to be bad again. Hang in there hopefully only 1 more month of this or so "they" say.
Peg,
DeleteFirst off, lucky you with a T-Bird convertible, until you meet flying deer. So glad the deer survived and sorry about your cool car getting the worst of it.
I know, this heat has been brutal but right now we are cooling off with gentle rains. Love it. Wishing you the same.
We are getting a break, sunny tomorrow, not unusual, but warm as well! Woo-hoo! it's just one day though at 19C (66.2F) but it makes a nice change from the 15C's (59F) we've been having. I'll be getting my sheets on the line nice and early.
ReplyDeleteRiver,
DeleteI keep forgetting part of our planet is in the opposite season. Enjoy your warm up. Wish we could send you even a bit of ours. Here instead of hanging clothes in the am, we are mowing in the morning to beat the heat. We are both adjusting.
P.S. sorry to hear about the deer and the unborn baby.
ReplyDeleteRiver,
DeleteThank you and yes, that she was pregnant made it all the more heart wrenching.
Well I almost peed my pants til you got to the part about it being a deer. Still it is a very sad story. I love the deer on my property and the way they look in my windows in the morning. So far I haven't found any deceased on my land.
ReplyDeleteAnni,
DeleteOoh sorry about that, I guess I went a bit heavy on the drama:) Deer are my favorite wild animal to watch. Lucky you to have them right out your window.
That is so sad. I hope she didn't suffer.
ReplyDeleteAnon,
ReplyDeleteMe too in a big way. I don't think she thrashed about at all. She looked peaceful with no visible wounds.
Oh, that is too bad but glad you got such quick removal of the body. Roadkill on my street is nonexistent as far as I’ve seen. Hope you dont have any more. Nice you got some rain. We have not. Stay cool! Drink lots of water.
ReplyDeleteJoared,
DeleteMe too on the quickness. In that heat, the smell would have been awful. Lucky you no road kills. I see 3 or 4 every time I go to town, usually small animals.
Drinking lots. Hope you get a break soon.
The only roadkill we might get here in Hawaii are mongoose, I think. Hmm... is plural going to be mongeese? Or mongooses? In Illinois, it used to be squirrels, especially in fall. But a full grown deer? Wow! I remember a teacher at our school returning home from Canada and being a couple of days late to return. She said they were driving at night and hit a deer. Both deer and car died. That was astonishing, but I guess it happens. I'm glad you were able to get the deer body removed before the heat made it ... ummm... unpresentable.
ReplyDelete