Do You Swerve for Squirrels?
By Jim Bauer
@porwest (112717)
United States
June 14, 2022 8:04am CST
"The world's streets are littered with flattened squirrels for lack of being able to make a decision." —Anonymous
I am not necessarily an animal lover, although I do care about and respect wildlife. I will admit that I do feel a little sad when I see a truckload of cows on their way to the slaughter house—right before I stop off at McDonald's for a delicious Double Quarter Pounder.
When it comes to driving I am always on the lookout for anything in the road or possibly entering the road. Rabbits, racoons, opossums, deer and yes, squirrels.
In fact, squirrels are the critters I tend to run into more often than any other. Well, I don't run into them, although from time to time one does get caught under my tires.
But I do my best to avoid them. I'll brake and swerve so long as it is practical and safe to do so. I have no interest in taking out any wildlife if I can help it. I want them to be able to run and play and enjoy their day just as much as I do.
Their lives, to me, are not any less important than mine. And because I have a bigger brain I feel I also have a bit of responsibility to share the world with them and make an effort to make a decision they cannot make.
Speaking of roadkill, has anyone ever actually seen a live armadillo? I am convinced the only time anyone ever does see them is right before they run them over.
Do you take extra care to avoid making roadkill?
13 people like this
11 responses
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Jun 22
I have to be very alert and vigilant when I drive, as my commute to and from work is on a lonely, rural stretch of highway. It never fails that I see new roadkill each and every day. It blows my mind that our deer population is as large as it is, because I don't think a day goes by that I don't see a flattened deer in the roadways.
Now, to answer your question: no, I do not go out of my way to avoid hitting squirrels, although to this point I have never hit a squirrel.
Florida is overrun with armadillos, so I see live ones all the time. They are everywhere here. And yes, there's a lot of armadillo roadkill here too.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jun 22
@porwest They’re most active at night, but they move around during the day too
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
21 Jun 22
@moffittjc I long to see one actually not flattened one day—although it should not be funny I do find the ones upside down with their legs in the air give me a chuckle.
1 person likes this
I'm not sure what I've seen is a weasel in Indonesia
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
14 Jun 22
I am not in a car so..
There are millions of squirrels out back here
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
14 Jun 22
Yeah, like you I'll swerve a little, but not enough to endanger other drivers or myself. The worst though, are deer. They cause an awful lot of damage.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
14 Jun 22
@porwest They're all over around here. We hit one years ago, but thankfully not recently.
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
15 Jun 22
@1creekgirl Fingers crossed this can be something I forever avoid.
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@m_audrey6788 (58468)
• Germany
14 Jun 22
I love to see squirrels around here. I never drive a car and didn`t experience that. Good thing you are so alert in driving 
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
14 Jun 22
I've not run over top many squirrels in my lifetime that I know of
As for armadillos they are not found this far north to my knowledge.
I had a possum in my yard late one night. It seemed like it wanted to fight me gaining entrance to my home so I got a pole from my van to keep some distance between me and it. I've heard they can get angry and didn't want any problems.
@lovebuglena (52144)
• Staten Island, New York
15 Jun 22
You like McDonald's burgers? I went there once years back and said never again. But maybe it depends on location.
I don't drive but if I did I would make sure not to run it over.
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
15 Jun 22
I never drive. My son-in-law is our family driver. He once ran over a stray puppy running across while there's a heavy downpour. When I noticed a sudden bump, I asked what's up. He said he accidentally hit a running puppy crossing the road. I sighed - what a pity!
