Squirrels On The Road

Not quite sure where I'm going with this subject. I was inspired and the title kept coming up... I do have a special shovel in the backseat of my Jeep. Specially dedicated to scooping road kill off the street. It just bothers me to see a wild animal disgraced by being flattened. It's bad enough it was killed by our collective civilization. It's insult on injury to repeatedly run it into the ground. I'm not sure what I think about myself for doing this. I realize it's a bit odd. Until recently I only stopped if there was a field on the side of the road and a safe place to pull off. I've decided that even if I see one in a neighborhood I'll put it in a bag and deposit it in a wildish place for honorable decomposition.

I don't apologize as I exhume or "say a few words"... I feel the observer that was once in the squirrel has moved on. It's all about me and something I find disturbing about humanity's blatant disregard for the natural world all around. Of course you know "if you spot it - you got it" so once again I'm not clear on why I feel inspired to unceremoniously bail departed cadaverous creatures off the thoroughfare. (How's that for a wordy way to say road kill! =)  

One more observation... I do feel uncomfortable and shy about doing it. I wait for cars to go long passed. Hesitant, humble, reluctant, self conscious... all of those. Perhaps because I'm NOT completely clear on my motivations? The gore doesn't really put me off though it can be a bit shocking. There's no smell but a wildish muskiness. I usually happen upon the scene long before putrefaction. 

I feel because I'm just moved to do it, without a particular motivation or clear reason why it's just OK.  Just because.

---