re: Road Kill

[<rjpinkoski@deq.state.va.us>(Ronald J. Pinkoski)]

Good morning Bob.  Here are a few links that might provide some ideas.

Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation (http://www.jhwildlife.org/roadkill.html) - 
discusses the work they are doing;

UC Berkely's Institute of Transportation Studies 
(http://www.its.berkeley.edu/techtransfer/resources/newsletter/01winter/roadkil
l.html) - contains a bibliography and some related web sites.

And there's an article from the Billings Gazette that discusses some attempts 
at finding solutions 
(http://www.billingsgazette.com/archive.php?section=magazine&display=rednews/20
00/12/03/build/magazine/3roadkill.inc).

I seem to remember some folks in Pennsylvania that were trying devices that 
would "scare" the animals back into the woods, but I don't have any more 
information.

On the disposal side, I can see how it could get expensive if the Town can't 
compost, or send it the caracsses straight to the landfill.  Some states have 
programs where the animal can be taken for food (within limits), but there 
isn't must demand for skunk meat.  We have a med. waste treatment facility 
here in Tidewater Virginia with a big autoclave; if one is available, could 
they autoclave and landfill (although that might be even more expensive than 
incineration)?

Interesting question.  I hope there is something in here that helps...R.

Ron Pinkoski
Office of Pollution Prevention
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Tidewater Regional Office
5636 Southern Boulevard
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
757-518-2007/-2103 (fax)
---------- Original Text ----------

From: "Robert Pojasek" <rpojasek@sprynet.com>, on 2/21/02 6:21 PM:
To: SMTP@RCHMD.01@Servers[<p2tech@great-lakes.net>]

I am preparing a pollution prevention plan for a local government to 
satisfy a SEP issued by the US EPA.  The town has been told by the state 
that it must have road kill incinerated.  It does not permit burial and the 
state does not let municipal incinerators burn carcasses.  The annual cost 
to the town is in excess of $30,000.  Because the State has lowered 
payments to the town in this fiscal year due to declining tax revenues, 
they just laid off a dispatcher at the police department.  Savings of this 
money would allow them to re-institute this important position.  I know 
that the National Laboratories all have programs to prevent road kill with 
signage, lighting, fencing and other devices.  Is anyone familiar with any 
studies aimed at preventing general road kill?  There is a restaurant at 
Moosehead Lake called the "Road Kill Cafe."  Most of the people that go in 
there only buy the tee shirts but do not enjoy eating there!  But then, 
this is not really prevention.

Any ideas?

Bob

Dr. Robert B. Pojasek
Pojasek & Associates
PO Box 1333
E. Arlington, MA 02474-0071
(v) 781-641-2422
(f)  781-465-6006


http://www.Pojasek-Associates.com
rpojasek@sprynet.com