Saturday, May 31, 2008

Illinois roadkill

Our state is in more trouble than I thought. From the Associated Press:

The view along Illinois highways this summer should be beautiful — for the turkey vultures.

The state's transportation department says it won't be picking up as much roadkill left along roads because it spent too much of its budget during the winter. IDOT says it spent more than twice the allotted $40 million on clearing ice and snow removal because of rising fuel costs and harsh weather last winter. Dead animals in driving lanes and any deemed hazardous to motorists will be removed. But much of the rest will be left for scavengers.

Kevin Gillespie of the Jackson County Health Department says the roadkill might be smelly and gruesome, but it shouldn't lead to any health risks.

comments: 5

Genevieve Netz said...

It's best to brake for the buzzards. If they've been gorging for a while, they have trouble lifting off. In every account I've read of a vulture coming through the windshield, people say the stench is horrible -- and lingering.

Michael Leddy said...

Thanks for the advice, Genevieve!

Jason said...

Maybe things are looking better? I saw this today:

SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Department of Transportation has resumed mowing grass and soon will begin cleaning dead animals off state highways, with the expectation that Gov. Rod Blagojevich will sign off on more money for the agency.

JuliaR said...

I have bicycled past a deer that had been dead for some time and the smell was nose-reaming. You don't get that kind of immediacy in a car.

Michael Leddy said...

That's good news, Jason. The paper here seems to print negative items only when it comes to state government.

"Nose-reaming": Julia, that's cringe-inducingly vivid! This post is now Google's #1 hit for nose-reaming.