Add signage in the worst areas. Reduce speed limits in
those areas also.
Side road fences work to some degree too. Most of all it takes education
and determination on the part of the driver to always be alert when
driving
due to the uncertainty of what is on or will be on the roadway. Humans,
animals, out of control vehicles, anything can happen so it takes being an
alert driver.
---- Allen Anderson
Minneapolis, MN
AngAnimals@aol.com
I'm doing environmental project on science research.
For my project chose "saving animals on streets."
I'm trying to find best solution to keep animals off the road.
I think that the easiest solution is make a fence along the street and tunnels under it.
On the top of fence will be plexiglass bended at a 45-degree angle because some animals
can climb on the fence.
I'm planning to make some sounds to scare away animals. Send me an e-mail of what you
think about this.
Maybe you have some better ideas.
---- Michal Korzeniowski
Satellite Beach, FL
darko_pl@hotmail.com
Responsible owwnership is the number one answer. Always spay or neuter, obviously. I have
six cats and a Pit Bull whom I love very much and I would be devasted if they were killed.
However, if you've ever had indoor cats you know that indoor cats are not as happy and
content as outdoor cats. They spend all day trying to sneak out of the house and when they
accidentally get out, they do not know what to do or how to survive because they are
indoor cats. We need to properly train dogs not to wander or we need to keep them in a
fenced yard.
I'm sorry to say I do not have an answer for the cats. I truly believe it is cruel to
force cats to be indoor animals, unless absolutely necessary, i.e. in a city.
----
Jeannie
Massachusetts
Mickel@mediaone.com
Drive slowly and carefully.
---- Benny Kusuma
Semarang
jbk@idola.net.id
I think if better fences were built along the roads that it would help a
great deal. We already have fences but they aren't constructed good enough to keep the
animals from getting out. Small animals can slip through the holes in the fences. Let's
make the holes smaller, or better yet, take the gaps out of the fence all together and
make the fence a solid wall.
---- Peggi Morris
LaVerne, CA
Number one, with all the animals in the pound, I think spaying and neutering would
dramatically reduce the number of domesticated animals that are on the lose today. Also, I
follow a friend's thinking that before you are allowed to purchase a dog or cat or ANY
ANIMAL as a pet, you should be required to go through rigorous physical and mental tests,
and must pass sucessfully, before being allowed to own a pet. That way, if you spent all
that effort in being allowed to own such a pet, you darn sure will take care of it, or
risk getting your pet license and pet taken away and not be allowed to own another. Just a
thought.
---- Elaine
Spokane,WA
I think what can be done is that more people try to ride their bikes more than cars. I
think when a animal gets hit, the scavengers that night will find it and when they start
to eat the road kill they get hit as well. So when you see a animal on the side of the
road, take it off and take it as far away as you can.
---- Clayton Capstick
Memphis, TN
It might sound dumb, but you can buckle them in like how people woud be. And also, you
should try not to take them as many places as you often do, or at least be careful about
driving when they're in the car!
---- mars330
I think the number of animals that are killed on the roads can be stoped
by people being more careful while driving. They can also take more planes to the places
where they want to go.
---- Clayton Capstick
Memphis, TN
I think we should put up stainless steel rails on every road to keep the
animals off the roads.
---- Alex Pandroulas
Florida
First of all, all cats and dogs should be spayed and neutered that way
they don't roam. (You have probably heard this a thousand times.) Otherwise, the breed
will be wiped out.
Second, anyone who has a dog should have a fenced-in yard; cats should
stay inside. If he/she has to go outside, put him/her in a protected area. For example, my
biggest dog climbs the fence, we have to walk him inside a fenced yard, two or more times
a day.
---- Wanda Jordan
Jacksonville, Florida
Deer whistles help -- with all animals. Spaying/neutering keeps the animal population
down; responsible ownership with those pets we have -- established boundaries, confinement
to property, and common sense, are all factors in responsible ownership.
---- Sunny Stufflebeam
Serena, IL
It seems to me that people who have pets need to take much better care
of them. Spay the females and neuter the males. Keeping cats indoors and dogs in kennels,
in fenced yards or indoors unless supervised, would go far to stop the unhumane deaths so
many domestic animals experience on our roads and highways. It is the human responsiblity
to care for the animals on the planet. Driving more carefully in the country to protect
our wild feathered and furred friends will help.
---- Karen
kformbod@gateway.net
Be as alert as possible and be prepared to brake.
---- macy1@aol.com
When people see an animal on the road, they should actually try to stop
the car rather than taking amusement in running it over. Animals are just like people and
they deserve to live. I wish animals were treated as people, like maybe they could get a
trial
from getting hurt by a human. I just wish people would care more about animals because
they, themselves are also animals, whether they like it or not.
---- Becca Didio
Sewell, NJ
I think they should put fences where the animals are the most and on
busy highways, and have a opening so they can get on the other side of the road, and have
a caution sign so the people will know where they are.
---- Patricia Menn
Porter, IN
Pets should be kept in a fenced yard and drivers should drive slower.
---- Jasmine Mastro
Grayson, GA
Heavy fines should be levied for the injury of wild animals (deer etc.)
For all animals there should be a good Samaritan law like the French have for human beings
that would at least reduce the number of hit and run incidents. Civil penalties would
result if a driver were to leave a dying animal alone. As for pet owners--don't let your
animals out alone--you wouldn't let your children wander in the streets. Animals have no
understanding of the danger of roads. First aid for animals as well as people should be
taught in all high schools, especially in areas where road killing is high. Everyone must
learn to respect the value of all life on our planet. Thank you. :)
----Nina Faso
Henderson, Nevada
You can try to train them to be scared of cars, then they might be saved.
--- Anthony
szigety@hotmail.com
Put up fences. It may not save them all, but it will give a few
more a
fighting chance.
---- Gracie Marie Duncan
Radford, VA
A. people can take better care of their animals
B. We can build gates or blockades or passageways for them.
---- Jenny, Oceanside
penpaljen@juno.com
The death of companion animals on America's roadways would
decrease if people took the following simple, but important steps:
1. Spay or neuter their pets.
2. Keep their cats indoors.
3. Obedience train their dogs.
4. Spend plenty of quality time with their animals.
As our cities are growing, construction is destroying woods and
wetlands, which are the home to most wildlife we see killed on our roadways. I believe we
should refurbish land that is no longer being used instead of expanding into wooded areas.
---- Danya Parks
Jacksonville,FL
I think that if there were more warning signs in areas
where animals are prevalent and speeding laws were
more strictly enforced in those areas, there would be
fewer animals killed.
---- Candace Wase
Baltimore, MD
I personally live in an animal-dominated area. To keep the number
of animal deaths down, we all drive cautiously and at night when possible, we drive with
our high beams on in order to spot animals. If other animal dominated areas followed this
example, (and since every place on earth should really be considered animal-dominated,
that means everyone), I think there would be less animal road deaths.
I am an 18 year old girl studying to be a veterinarian and that is my opinion.
---- Jaci Cookson
Cardville, ME
Domestic pets should be kept in a fenced-in yard and/or on leashes
when outside. I believe this would save many domestic animal lives.
---- Regina Hallal
Lakewood, OH
People not being such erratic drivers. Being more cautious.
---- tweetpea@hotmail.com
Put motion detectors on the sides of the roads and have them
detect when an animal is about to cross and then light up a sign that says "beware of
animal crossing" or something like that.
---- ren911@aol.com
If people would spay and neuter their animals, there would
be fewer animals in the world. Also, if there is no
fenced-in yard, keep them on a leash. I love my dog
too much to let any harm come to him. Unfortunately,
a lot of animals are much more loving than the humans
who own them.
----
flair4horses@yahoo.com
The most important is to control their animals. Far too many pets
are allowed to roam, leading to the tragedy of road-kill pets. Along with this, is the
problem of dumping unwanted animals. The single action that will minimize this problem is
to have your pets spayed or neutered.
---- gregl852@interserv.com
The number of domestic animals killed on roads could be reduced by
maintaining good fences and using them.
---- Eileen Mason
Norfolk, VA
Keep the side of the road clean. Because people tend to throw out
their fast food bags or pop containers along side the road, the smell of food from these
can draw animals to the road where they get hit.
---- Angie Dennis
Caledonia, OH
Fence in property for dogs and keep cats inside. Keep all pets
spayed to prevent more unwanted pets.
---- Jackie Butch
Bayville, NJ
I have deer whistles on the front of my car. I'm not 100 percent
sure if they
work, but I haven't hit a deer yet, and I live in northern Virginia near a lot
of battle fields with plenty of deer. If some sort of proven noise device that
startles the animals or frightens them away could be developed, I think that
would be an easy way.
---- Stephanie Shankles
Gainesville, Virginia
Owner neglect is often the cause of animal fatality, whether it is on the road or not. The number of deaths could be greatly reduced if people would take the time to simply put their dog on a leash when walking it or tethering it when allowing it to be outside. Properly training a dog is also necessary because no matter how good of an owner you are accidents are bound to happen and the dog may get loose. When this happens, the properly trained dog can be commanded to return to the safety of its owners. Unfortunately, there is still the issue of wild animal fatality. Sometimes this can be prevented by careful driving (i.e. watching where you are going, driving at a safe speed, etc). A lot of times you can see the animal at enough distance to safely slow or halt to allow the animal to safely cross the street. But no matter what anyone says, have the decency to stop if you hit an animal no matter if it is wild or tame. It is unethical to leave the animal without making sure it is gone, and if it is suffering, well, do what needs to be done. If the animal can be saved, for heaven sakes, SAVE IT!
---- Katrina Wogoman
North Pole, Alaska
Eliminate the pet overpopulation and the quantity of animals will
be less and people will realize that the animals cannot be replaced so easily.
---- Cindy Bravender
Benton Harbor, MI
Do not let your pets run loose. Spay and neuter your
pets.
----
Rob Duncan
Morehead
City, NC
"I volunteer
about 10 hours per week at the animal shelter here in my town. I think that one way to
assist the homeless creatures with which we share the earth is to be vocal and proactive
in promoting their cause; talk to anyone and everyone. I find the more people I talk to,
the more people are aware of the plight of homeless animals, the more people donate money,
time and homes. The other issue is to loudly promote spay/neuter. All adopted animals from
our shelter are spayed or neutered before they go to their new home. My personal choice is
to adopt as many (and more) companion animals I can provide a home. It is incumbent on
human animals to responsibly care for those less fortunate than we. ‘The greatness of
a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated…I
hold that, the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from
the cruelty of man.’ Mahatma Gandhi 1869-1948."
---- L. Hanson,
Wenatchee, Washington
I believe the answer lies in the vets' hands. The cost to
have an animal spayed or neutered these days is close to $100 for a female cat and more
for a dog. Many people, particularly the elderly and those with children, can't afford
this, so they let it slide. Next, we have another litter looking for homes and it goes on
and on. I know the vets have to make a living; the schooling for them wasn't cheap, but
the animal population has gone wild. Something HAS to be done to bring this under control.
Next, each city should have stricter rules for our back-yard breeders trying to make big
bucks on whichever dog may be the "in thing" to own at that time. I don't know
what could be done to bring this under control, but something has to be done. Too many are
being born with not enough homes to go around.
---- Jane DeVries
Berrien Springs, MI
"I think that they are good and bad. It is good to experience animals so close,
but it's bad to keep them captive. Who gave us the right to capture and engage them? You
don't put kids in cages and display us! So, my opinion is to just watch animal videos by
National Geographic or something like that. As long as the animals in zoos are not treated
badly, which no one knows if they are, the zoos are a good place to let an animal live.
The wild is where they belong; it is
their home. As long as we have zoos right now, we should try to make them cleaner and
better for the animals and let the public enjoy the animals while they are there. Zoos are
a good place for endangered species so they can multiply. It goes both ways, good and
bad."
---- Holly Thomas
"Good, provided they treat the animals with respect and care.(i.e. open range
cages are better than caged pens.) But hopefully, even cages allow some people to see
animals they may never see, and therefore develop a sense of of ownership for that
animal's well-being and the desire to see it in sufficient numbers and in a natural
habitat. It is also great for children's education to have a better understanding of the
animal kingdom."
---- iko@kadina.mtx.net.au
"It depends really. Say, if you put a cheetah in the zoo with half an acre of
land, it would be better off in the wild. So with proper care, yes."
---- ChatMail@webtv.net
"Good."
---- SWort95252@aol.com
"Good for us, bad for animals. It also depends on how much space is available for
the animals."
---- gateigen@online.no
"For the time being, they're at least a necessary evil. Without established,
well-regulated zoological parks, there'd probably be MANY more of those abominations
called roadside zoos to feed the public curiosity. Moreover, some species would very soon
disappear if it weren't for zoo populations. And if a zoo inspires even a few children to
become wildlife experts, or makes some of its guests think about the world man is
systematically eradicating, it's not a bad trade-off."
---- tabboo@gate.net