Roadkill

Roadkill

I considered myself fortunate that the only scorpion I encountered during my trip was a dead one. I saw this one in the middle of Nevada. They are common in many desert areas of the western United States. Scorpions can sting by whipping their tail forward over their head. I was comforted by the fact that most scorpions are not deadly. However, the sting tends to hurt about ten times as much as that of a bumble-bee. Ouch!!! There is one type of scorpion that is deadly so you do not want to mess with them.

The photo above is of a northern cardinal. These birds are magnificent to see streaking by as their bright red feathers contrast with the green trees and blue sky. It is extra special for me because we do not have these birds in California. I have not been successful at capturing a live cardinal with my camera. I started to see these birds in eastern Kansas. Although you cannot see it in this picture, a distinctive feature of the cardinal is a tuft of feathers that sticks up towards the back of its head. This is called a crest. The male birds are red while the females are more brown in color. Do you think this one is a male or female? I think it is a male. Cardinals are also know for their red triangular bills. These short, strong bills are adapted to crack open seeds.

I was surprised to learn that I was going to be encountering armadillos during my trip in Missouri. Armadillos can be found south from there into Texas and east into Florida. Unfortunately, all of the few dozen that I saw were dead upon the roadway. They are quite sizable creatures but their coloring does tend to blend in with the pavement which would make them a bit difficult to see for fast moving vehicles.

Armadillos are fascinating because their entire bodies are covered with a hard armor. On the back this armor has flexible joints which allow the animal to twist and turn. It reminds me of the carousels at the baggage claim. :-)

A Personal Note About Roadkill

I spent quite a bit of time while I was pedaling along debating whether or not to do a section on the dead animals that I found on the road. I decided that it was an important part of my experience and should not be left out. I have not gone a single day without seeing at least one dead animal. I have also become all too familiar with the smell of decaying flesh. You may appreciate the fact that I have only included animals that are fully intact, sparing you the blood and guts that are, honestly, the norm. I always say a silent prayer for dead animals that I bike past. I think about their untimely death and wish their spirit to be at peace. Their fate also brings my own mortality to the surface as I bike through a world dominated by fast moving chunks of metal.

For a few more graphic roadkill photos check out the Photo Gallery- Snake, Porcupine.

Mike@Kahncious.Net

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