Many people, whether they would like to admit it or not, have hit an animal with their vehicle. It could have happened because it was too dark and you didn’t see the animal at the time, or maybe you couldn’t swerve to avoid the animal. No matter the case, dead animals shouldn’t be left in the middle of the road. Road kill is very common on large highways that run through very rural areas, but this can be avoided.
Removing Yourself
If you do happen to hit an animal, you can technically remove them from the road yourself. While it is not advised to do so, you can if you have a pair of thick gloves that an animal can’t bite through. Some people who go hunting will place a deer or elk in the back of their truck if they accidently hit it on the road. If you hit a dog or a cat with your vehicle, you should check to see if they have tags. If the animal has tags, you should call their owner and let them know. You can also call your insurance company if there is serious damage to your vehicle.
Animal Control
There are quite a few rural areas in Virginia, along with different companies that handle animal control in Loudoun County. If you hit an animal and you’re not sure what to do, you can always call animal control to handle it. If you are on a highway or state route, you can try and give them the closest mile marker or landmark so they can easily locate the animal. Animal control employees are highly trained on how to handle situations like this. They can safely, quickly, and easily remove the animal from the roadway. They will also handle the disposing of the animal. Calling animal control is a safer and easier choice.
