Too much road kill
To the editor:
Just a note to all Pine Island residents, seasonal or otherwise. Please take your time and slow down while commuting and try and preserve the life of one of our island’s many other residents, namely the raccoons, opossums, armadillos, turtles, egrets, etc. The list is extensive. Whether you like or dislike wildlife, these animals, reptiles or birds all were here long before humans and have a difficult enough time coping with the loss of their natural habitat, fires, weather conditions, etc. and for the most part we are oblivious to what a car or truck is and can do to them. Concentrating mainly on mating or their next meal for themselves or their young. They do not need to be fed like the abandoned stray cats at the Winn-Dixie plaza. Just slow down, and give them a chance, especially at night, when most are out foraging for food.
The local DOT or whoever is responsible for removing the road kill is evidently not in the budget now as each and every day I see a number of victims in the road left as now as buzzard food! It isn’t a pleasant sight to view and makes one think of the offspring of the victims dying a slow and agonizing death from starvation because their parent was run down.
Most accidents are avoidable, some do happen. On your way home from work, dinner, a night out or whatever, take you time on the road. It is not a good feeling to kill a living creature senselessly and not for consumption. Perhaps In doing so, your children or grandchildren will still be able to see some of these native creatures! There used to be a lot of whales, bald eagles, burrowing owls, gopher tortoises, etc. These other creatures do not need to be on such a list!
Kraig Kupersmith
St. James City