# Is it me or is there a lot more roadkill in the spring? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 17, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or-is-there-a-lot-more-roadkill-in-the-spring/789249 "2017-06-17T22:09:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or-is-there-a-lot-more-roadkill-in-the-spring/789249/1 "2017-06-17T22:09:44Z")
In my little corner of the world (Queens/Long Island border) there are a lot of birds, opossums, racoons and cats dead on the road these days (not so much squirrels though. You’d think there would be but no) and I’m wondering if this is a spring thing. And if it is, why? Maybe a breeding thing? But then, why cats? Where I am is very urban, is it different in less citified surroundings? This question was prompted after coming across bird and a racoon roadkill on a ten minute drive to the supermarket and back. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or-is-there-a-lot-more-roadkill-in-the-spring/789249/2 "2017-06-17T22:15:08Z")
It’s not just you. We’re seeing an upsurge in roadkill also. Springtime, and a young and inattentive mammal’s fancy turns to love, and well, splat. ☹ Raccoons, bright about many things, have largely not yet learned to look both ways before crossing busy thoroughfares. This past week I came upon two in just a short stretch of a 45 mph two-lane road near home. Deer are also abundantly displaying their lack of traffic smarts, though for them at this time of the year it’s just plain stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Maurie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Maurie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maurie)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or-is-there-a-lot-more-roadkill-in-the-spring/789249/3 "2017-06-19T16:52:58Z")
I think there may also be a connection with the salt build up from the winter attracting some wildlife closer to the road than they might otherwise get. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or-is-there-a-lot-more-roadkill-in-the-spring/789249/4 "2017-06-19T18:22:27Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Maybe a breeding thing? But then, why cats? cats are seasonally polyestrus. They go into heat as day length increases, maximizing their reproductive success. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or-is-there-a-lot-more-roadkill-in-the-spring/789249/5 "2017-06-19T18:57:36Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > cats are seasonally polyestrus. They go into heat as day length increases, maximizing their reproductive success. By the time I’m 95 I’m going to be a super-genius because I learn something new every day. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or-is-there-a-lot-more-roadkill-in-the-spring/789249/6 "2017-06-20T00:25:59Z")
Spring is the mating season, when animals are paying a lot more attention to each other, distracted from what they would consider the routine hazards of normal life in the complex world. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or-is-there-a-lot-more-roadkill-in-the-spring/789249/7 "2017-06-20T00:34:54Z")
Isn’t spring/early summer when a lot of young animals are going out into the world? Inexperience takes a toll. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or-is-there-a-lot-more-roadkill-in-the-spring/789249/8 "2017-06-20T04:10:27Z")
Several reasons (some already mentioned): - spring is mating season – animals are distracted, roaming further. - spring/early summer is birthing season – young animals are inexperienced with roads. - spring is nursing season – feeding a young litter + yourself requires more time & travel hunting food.