I’m always looking for reasons to promote Florida living, so I was drawn to a recent story that singled out Florida as the most permissive state in America when it comes to roadkill.
Hey, we take our honors where we find them.
The story I read was prompted by a new Montana law that allows residents in that state to take antelope, deer, elk or moose that were accidentally killed on roadways-but only after getting a permit to do so from a law enforcement officer.
Fortunately, we here in Florida aren’t burdened by all that blood-red tape. As long as the dead animal isn’t a protected species, you can take it.
In some states, such as Texas, California and Wisconsin, it’s illegal to take any roadkill. Many other states have varying degrees of regulations and prohibitions.
In New Jersey, you can take the roadkill only after getting a permit from a state trooper. In Arizona, roadkill is salvaged to feed Mexican wolves. Alaska maintains a roadkill list where needy families and charities are offered the roadkill rather than the person who created it.
And in Illinois, you can take roadkill deer, but only after state officials make sure you aren’t delinquent in child support payments.
New York requires a determination that the animal’s death was accidental. Nebraska requires a salvaging permit before the butchering can begin. And in Wyoming you have to wait for a game warden to tag the dead animal on the side of the road before you can take it home.
West Virginia has a 12-hour rule. After you call it in, you’ve got 12 hours to take it. They’re pretty serious about roadkill in West Virginia.
It’s the only state that sponsors an annual roadkill cooking contest. No joke.
Sure, there may be health hazards involved, especially in Florida, which lacks the natural refrigeration benefits of states in cooler climates. And the protein sources tend to be smaller here.
For example, deer, the roadkill of choice, are relatively limited in Florida. The projected 14,082 annual collisions with deer in Florida amount to one for every 990 licensed Florida drivers. That puts us 48th in the nation in the likelihood of deer collisions.
Compare that to Pennsylvania, where there are 10 times more deer struck every year. Or in West Virginia, where one of 40 licensed drivers are statistically bound to hit a deer every year.
I suspect we do much better in the untallied opossum category, and if there were ever a measure for insects smashed on car windshields we’d be the undisputed champs.
So remember this: The next time somebody starts bad-mouthing life in Florida, you can always stick up for our state by pointing out, “Well, at least we’ve got all-you-can-eat roadkill.”
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Frank Cerabino writes for The Palm Beach Post.
Editorial, Pages 16 on 04/27/2013