Roadkill

[rich p]

Years ago it was common to see flattened hedgehogs on the road but around these parts, at least, it is an increasingly rare sight.

Are there less of them about, all been squashed, quit the south-east due to soaring house prices?

 

[rich p]

Round my way it's squished rabbits... hundreds of them.

Rabbits, ten a penny, it's true but whither the spiky hedgehog?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Saw a squashed one in Oxfordshire last week - yum!

 

[ianrauk]

Saw one of the prickly little feckers spread all over the road last week in East Sussex

 

[Mayniac]

Squirrels. Grey and red ones.

 

[Globalti]

Plenty of hedgehogs around here. Seen two badgers this week as well.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Plenty of hedgehogs around here. Seen two badgers this week as well.

Makings of a cracking casserole there RR!!

 

[Davywalnuts]

Always seing road kill around here. Foxes, squirrels, hedgehogs, various other rodents inc pidgeons, sometimes cat too...

I would say in the 3.8miles to work, there must be 3 or 4 pizza toppings along the roads..

We should start a road kill gallery! Or is that distasteful?

 

[Jane Smart]

Just come back home today, from two weeks in the Highlands and there was loads of road kill up there

Everything from the hedgehogs, rabbits and foxes and we even saw a Badger

 

[snorri]

flattened hedgehogs on the road but around these parts, at least, it is an increasingly rare sight.

Now that you mention it....I think it's the same around here.
There has been an increase in the numbers of flattened aluminium cans, could there be some connection?

 

[asterix]

Many, many years ago they built the Orwell Bridge just outside Ipswich to carry the new by-pass to Felixstowe. I used it after it first opened and the road surface was covered in flattened furry creatures. Obviously the road having cut through woodland went across their normal trails.

It didn't take long for the supply of furry things to dry up leaving the tarmac nice and clear.

 

[montage]

saw somebody run over a duck after getting impatient ... .on purpose. tosser.

 

[Arch]

Now that you mention it....I think it's the same around here.B)
There has been an increase in the numbers of flattened aluminium cans, could there be some connection?

You think the hedgehogs have been developing some sort of armour?

There is the theory that those hedgehogs that soemhow avoid being roadkill (either by not straying onto tarmac, or by having the wit to run when cars approach) will be the ones to breed more and pass on the behaviour, so natural selection suggests less roadkill over time.

Alternatively, the population of hedgehogs could be being reduced by encroachment on habitat, disruption of natural hibernation cycles and so on.

 

[User482]

You think the hedgehogs have been developing some sort of armour?

There is the theory that those hedgehogs that soemhow avoid being roadkill (either by not straying onto tarmac, or by having the wit to run when cars approach) will be the ones to breed more and pass on the behaviour, so natural selection suggests less roadkill over time.

Alternatively, the population of hedgehogs could be being reduced by encroachment on habitat, disruption of natural hibernation cycles and so on.

IIRC there's some evidence that they're already starting to do this. Let's hope they learn quickly!

 

[Glow worm]

Years ago it was common to see flattened hedgehogs on the road but around these parts, at least, it is an increasingly rare sight.

Plenty of squashed hedgehogs hereabouts in East Anglia. Usually more in early-mid spring especially the young'uns. I have noticed more flattened stoats though in the last few weeks - not sure what that's about. Guess it could be the combines flushing them out onto roads? Come sugar beet season Sept to about Feb, it will be rats as they love chewinmg the clamps of beet and then running into the road! Plenty of dead or dying wood pigeons here too and I'm forever ringing the necks of almost dead but clearly in agony semi-squashed rabbits. I have to try to remember to wash my hands when I get home before cuddling my wife! There are some advantages to road kill though- we tend to get at least half a dozen free pheasants a year -very tasty!