I ran over a squirrel on my way to work today

[Jeff7181]

I was driving 45 mph down a road and saw a squirrel run across the street from right to left. He just crossed the yellow line and stopped, looked around and went back the other way, right in front of me. I decided rather than slam on the brakes and screech to a halt and/or swerve, I'd keep going and hope as he heard me get closer he'd turn back and continue crossing or that he'd be half way across the lane by the time I got to him and I'd basically straddle him... nope... thump thump. Ran straight over him with both tires. Probably better that way so it was pretty much instant rather than taking off his tail or one of his legs or just his hind quarters or something. I felt bad seeing a brown, fuzzy ball motionless in my rear view mirror. I've never killed an animal before.

 

[HannibalX]

You've never killed an animal before? Not even a house fly?

 

[Crono]

Poor squirrel. Not your fault, but sad day for squirrel-kind.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Dammit Jeff!

 

[schneiderguy]

I ran over a squirrel last week, but just got its tail or something, so when I looked back at it it was just flopping around in the road I don't even like squirrels and it still made me feel bad.

 

[ChanHo78]

you monster!!!

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: iFX
You've never killed an animal before? Not even a house fly?

Ok... with the exception of "bugs." Actually I think the largest living thing I've ever killed was a garter snake. Or maybe a bluegill... not sure cause I threw it back... it may have died afterward. (shrug)

 

[Ronstang]

Don't sweat it. Running over animals is only bad if you do it intentionally. It is also safer if you train your instincts to not overreact trying to avoid little creatures. It is actually safer for you and others to just run them over or hope they get out of the way on their own....unless you can safely miss them. I hit two labrador retriever puppies one night. It was very late at night on a dark country road on the way out to the lake. I came around a corner and they were crossing the street in front of me. Nothing I could do safely so I had to just hit them. few hours later on my way back I noticed the carnage. It was not pretty. I felt bad but puppies should not be roaming highways in the dark.

 

[kevman]

good, they are a nuisance anyway. We should get rid of all squirrels, sharks, alligators and bees.

 

[ChanHo78]

Originally posted by: kevman
good, they are a nuisance anyway. We should get rid of all squirrels, sharks, alligators and bees.

hey bees make honey! I love honey....

 

[SmoochyTX]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I was driving 45 mph down a road and saw a squirrel run across the street from right to left. He just crossed the yellow line and stopped, looked around and went back the other way, right in front of me. I decided rather than slam on the brakes and screech to a halt and/or swerve, I'd keep going and hope as he heard me get closer he'd turn back and continue crossing or that he'd be half way across the lane by the time I got to him and I'd basically straddle him... nope... thump thump. Ran straight over him with both tires. Probably better that way so it was pretty much instant rather than taking off his tail or one of his legs or just his hind quarters or something. I felt bad seeing a brown, fuzzy ball motionless in my rear view mirror. I've never killed an animal before.

Did you go back and look to see if the rest of its family was around? If they were, did you chase them around to pick them up and let them loose in your parent's neighborhood? I'm sure there are lots of old people willing to feed them.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: kevman
good, they are a nuisance anyway. We should get rid of all squirrels, sharks, alligators and bees.

Yeah, b/c bees don't do anything useful for mankind.

 

[nageov3t]

never swerve to avoid a squirrel. it results in their death... you didn't learn that in driver's ed?

 

[El Guaraguao]

Originally posted by: kevman
good, they are a nuisance anyway. We should get rid of all squirrels, sharks, alligators and bees.

and sharks with lasers.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I was driving 45 mph down a road and saw a squirrel run across the street from right to left. He just crossed the yellow line and stopped, looked around and went back the other way, right in front of me. I decided rather than slam on the brakes and screech to a halt and/or swerve, I'd keep going and hope as he heard me get closer he'd turn back and continue crossing or that he'd be half way across the lane by the time I got to him and I'd basically straddle him... nope... thump thump. Ran straight over him with both tires. Probably better that way so it was pretty much instant rather than taking off his tail or one of his legs or just his hind quarters or something. I felt bad seeing a brown, fuzzy ball motionless in my rear view mirror. I've never killed an animal before.

Did you go back and look to see if the rest of its family was around? If they were, did you chase them around to pick them up and let them loose in your parent's neighborhood? I'm sure there are lots of old people willing to feed them.

My grandmother would have given me praise if she was still alive. She hated squirrels because they use to eat all the bird seed she put out and break her bird houses.

 

[So]

I've hit pigeons and doves before but not yet a squirrel...of course they're not too numerous around here.

 

[Quiksilver]

I only see black squirrels around here anymore... You killed a rare one

 

[TheVrolok]

One night driving home from the movies, I hit a possum, and 2 rabbits. It was an absurd drive, animals were running out of no where and directly into my tires. One of the rabbits actually ran off the street onto the shoulder, and then as my car approached it ran back into the street. I felt awful when I got home.

 

[Red Squirrel]

That's sad, but hey accidents happen. Squirrels are not the best when it comes to traffic safety. They think cars TRY to get them, so they try to confuse the cars the same way they'd try to confuse a predator heading straight towards them, which is often fatal as most drivers try to avoid them too... Sadly there are people out there who purposely kill squirrels and other small animals because they get a sense of power from doing it. At least there's one good thing about this, it will make a very easy meal for a crow or other scavenger bird.

I came VERY close to hitting one not too long ago, I was going much slower so I was able to brake without skidding, and nobody was behind me so it was safe. Had I been going faster or if someone would of been behind things would of maybe been different.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Never hit an animal but have come close to hitting cats several times. Bloody critters dart out of nowhere like they were launched out of a rocket launcher; tremendously startling when it's dark and you're riding a motorcycle. I can't say with 100% certainty but once it felt like one got through the underside of the chassis, right between the wheels. :Q

 

[JulesMaximus]

Any particular reason I should give a crap about you killing a squirrel? It's not as though they're an endangered species.

Be happy you didn't slam on your brakes trying to avoid some worthless rodent and end up losing control of your car like so many idiot drivers do.

 

[Jeff7181]

That did cross my mind. I was very happy that I was in my car and not on my motorcycle. I may not have driven away just feeling sorry.

 

[AMCRambler]

My kill count consists of:

1 Husky
3 Cats
2 squirrels
1 chipmunk

The cats were so lightning fast I didn't even have a chance to swerve. It was MEOW! THUD! and it was over.

The dog I felt real bad about but I actually hit the brakes hard enough that it made it across my lane. The guy coming the other way hit it with his front bumper and cartwheeled it back in front of me while I was still braking and I went over it with both tires. He was toast. The other asshole driver kept going. I stopped at my friends house called the police and went back. Helped the cop get the dog outta the road. I felt real bad but the cop was like he shouldn't have been out running around loose.

 

[I Saw OJ]

I ran over a cat a couple years ago on the way to Disneyland. Ruined the whole trip

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: AMCRambler
My kill count consists of:

1 Husky
3 Cats
2 squirrels
1 chipmunk

The cats were so lightning fast I didn't even have a chance to swerve. It was MEOW! THUD! and it was over.

The dog I felt real bad about but I actually hit the brakes hard enough that it made it across my lane. The guy coming the other way hit it with his front bumper and cartwheeled it back in front of me while I was still braking and I went over it with both tires. He was toast. The other asshole driver kept going. I stopped at my friends house called the police and went back. Helped the cop get the dog outta the road. I felt real bad but the cop was like he shouldn't have been out running around loose.

What an ass. If you saw it and the other guy was coming from the other direction, he clearly should have seen it and had even more time than you to slow down. Poor doggy