...people who deliberately run over snakes.
Just got back from the barn, and my day is absolutely ruined. As I was driving down the nice country road, about 200 feet behind a car up ahead, I saw the car swerve into the lane for on-coming traffic (no one was coming) and then swerve back. Knowing that groundhogs, squirrels, turtles, etc., live along that road, I slowed and kept my eyes peeled to the right, to make sure I didn't hit whatever critter the person in front of me swerved to miss.
Then, when I neared the spot where the car had swerved, I saw something wriggling frantically in the road to my left. I immediately knew what had happened, and heartsick, I stopped beside it. Beautiful little eastern kingsnake (probably a new hatchling), with its lower half smushed and entrails squeezed out the vent. I used the heel of my boot to shorten its misery (I've taken snakes hit on the road to vets before when they weren't in too bad a shape, but this one was a guaranteed goner), and then cursed the driver so casually driving away after deliberately running over the harmless little snake.
I know, logically, that the hatchling could have been some hawk's lunch only moments earlier, but at least it would have served a purpose in the circle of life. As it was, a senseless waste and a cruelty the little snake never deserved. Just makes me furious.
Sorry. Needed to vent.
Just got back from the barn, and my day is absolutely ruined. As I was driving down the nice country road, about 200 feet behind a car up ahead, I saw the car swerve into the lane for on-coming traffic (no one was coming) and then swerve back. Knowing that groundhogs, squirrels, turtles, etc., live along that road, I slowed and kept my eyes peeled to the right, to make sure I didn't hit whatever critter the person in front of me swerved to miss.
Then, when I neared the spot where the car had swerved, I saw something wriggling frantically in the road to my left. I immediately knew what had happened, and heartsick, I stopped beside it. Beautiful little eastern kingsnake (probably a new hatchling), with its lower half smushed and entrails squeezed out the vent. I used the heel of my boot to shorten its misery (I've taken snakes hit on the road to vets before when they weren't in too bad a shape, but this one was a guaranteed goner), and then cursed the driver so casually driving away after deliberately running over the harmless little snake.
I know, logically, that the hatchling could have been some hawk's lunch only moments earlier, but at least it would have served a purpose in the circle of life. As it was, a senseless waste and a cruelty the little snake never deserved. Just makes me furious.
Sorry. Needed to vent.