A New Use For Those BBQ Tongs

I have wildlife/nonwildlife rescue paraphernalia in my car. A large box with airholes, a small one, a towel or two, a leash, soapy handwipes, you get the idea. I've decided to add the enormous barbecue/barbeque tongs that are collecting dust in the garage (the smaller ones that we use for veggies on the counter-grill still see some action). Why? Because of what happened today, which has happened to me a half dozen times in the past year. I can't do anything about the times it happens when I'm going for a run or walk, but I can do something about the times it happens when I'm in the car.

In case you haven't guessed, it is the relocation of a fresh (or not) carcass, usually with entrails spilling out, to a place more hospitable for the buzzards and hawks who evidently at least in South Florida do not judge the speed of oncoming traffic very well. There's nothing worse than one dead animal being partially responsible for the death of one live animal.

I tweeted about a similar incident about a month ago and someone replied that she was glad there was someone fighting for the safe-dining rights of hawks. I don't know if she was being sarcastic, but in my town I see dead armadillos, opossums, raccoons, all manner of turtles, and squirrels dead in the middle of the road frequently. At least they're dead and it wasn't my fault, but I still have a responsibility.

I've never seen a dead dog in the road but I have seen cats and I always check for a tag, then call Animal Care and Control (or a local shelter) if I can't take the animal myself and have her scanned for a microchip. As someone whose cat (technically my sister's cat) disappeared when we were kids, I know the pain of wondering what has happened. There's no excuse to not at least report the dead animal in case she was someone's "pet" and there's a little girl crying herself to sleep, her mind wandering in all kinds of horrible directions, desperately missing her kitty.

Furthermore, if the animal in the road is fresh and it's easily determined that she is a nursing female, there could be babies close by and scanning the area for little ones unable to care for themselves isn't a bad idea. (And having the numbers of a couple of wildlife rehabbers programmed into your phone is helpful.)

If you've handled fresh carcasses that are open and, shall we say, leaking, you know what a messy, smelly, and surprisingly heavy endeavor it can be. And how difficult it is to get the stench off of you. Depending on where you're going and what you're wearing, you might thank me for what seemed at first like a silly suggestion.

So put those old BBQ tongs in the car (I'm adding that huge spatula, too) and make it easier relocate dead animals to a place where scavengers and vultures of all kinds can eat without being in mortal danger.

Comments

[Scu]

Interesting.

Totally unrelated, but you mention you live in south FL. I am in the process of moving from Ithaca, NY to Boca Raton. In Ithaca it seems like finding a place without at least vegan options is hard. But as someone who grew up in south GA, I know the south in general is flesh heavy place.

Any suggestions on excellent vegan places in or near Boca?

Thanks if you get the time.

[Deb]

I recently rode by a not that fresh dead kitty in the road. I looked for tags, but now I'm kicking myself for not thinking of the microship possibility, because I didn't call anyone about it and you know how little time it takes for animals to become one with the asphalt. I should ride through the neighborhood to see if there are any lost kitty signs.

Thanks for posting about this issue. I need to get a kit together for my truck, for the just in case. I have meant to do it for a long time anyway!

[Steve]

I have to say, that Mary, you are simply badass, for carrying a spatula and tongs in your car to pick up dead animals.

....best vegan blog ever, period.

[John]

In the short time I've been reading your blog you continue to amaze me...in a good sense of course! I used to have to pick up dead animals on the highways as part of my job when I was working in road maintenance. Whether it be a dog or a opossum...I always thought the tragedy was the same. :-(

[mary]

Scu--
Boca Raton is not often seen in the same sentence as vegan, but that's not actually fair. However, Sublime is nearby in Fort Lauderdale (www.sublimeveg.com) and the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida has a veg dining guide at http://www.vegsouthflorida.com/. In addition, there are plenty of chinese, japanese and thai places that have vegan meals on their menus and I've been to only one restaurant (a greek one) that said that there was not one item on the menu that didn't contain animals. Even the bread. I whipped out an Amazing Greens bar and ate it while everyone dined on creatures. The water was great, so that's good. Good luck!

Deb--
I would've pegged you as the person with the more thorough kit than I!

Steve and John--
Gimme some time. I'll annoy you and you'll be sick of me in a month or two. Thanks, though!

[Bea Elliott]

That is a great idea for the tongs! You're an clever woman indeed!

Since I live in Florida too... My county boasts 554 lakes... many are on both sides of the street. And when it comes to turtles traveling to get to the other side, unless they are pointed and walking in an exact direction, I never know which side to get them to! And sure enough... where ever I relocate them to - I just know for sure it wasn't the right one!

Still either is a better option than the highway... I know some motorists think they're "targets". But these same people should be forwarned... If the turtle is large enough - karma will do a number on their car. :)

[Tater]

Mary,
Be very careful out there on the roads... may i suggest a small collapsible shovel..the South Florida roads are mighty dangerous..