Archive for March 10, 2012

A true story-Owl Roadkill

Posted: March 10, 2012 by drsplatt in Uncategorized
Tags: ,

Hi all

Just thought I would share an experience that happened to me on February 2011.  I leave at 5:30am for school (Derry,NH) and usually get back around 5:00 pm.  Driving in February is depressing as you leave and come back in the dark.  It was February 3rd in which I had to stay till 8pm for course night.  I was driving home on a major highway (route 106) 3 miles from my house when I saw something cross in front of my car in front of me.  I heard a thump and thought I hit something.  I turned the car around and drove slowly back to where I supposedly hit the creature.  Nothing!  My thoughts were that the creature crawled off the side of the road or maybe I didn’t hit an animal as it was something else. I drove home and quickly went into my house as it was a very cold night.  The next morning I left my house at 5:40am in the dark and got to school at 6:25.  Parked the car and went quickly inside to get ready for school.  It was at 10am when a teacher came to my door and said that their was a bird stuck in my Honda Civic grill.  We went out and found a perfect specimen of a barred owl stuck in my grill.  A 45 minute drive from Loudon to Derry, NH at 60 mph with an owl stuck in a grill.  I called NH Fish and Game and asked if I could get the owl stuffed for my classroom.  I was told I needed a special permit as owls are a protected species.  I was also mentioned that if you are caught with any feathers, talons or other parts of a raptor that it was a $10,000 fine and a year in jail.  Nevertheless, I built a bonfire the next weekend and incinerated the owl.

Week #1

Posted: March 10, 2012 by drsplatt in Uncategorized

Hi All

The first week has been interesting as the temperature’s in NH have been as low as 20 degrees to as high as 60 degrees. Animals must be as confused as we are!

60 degree temperature on March 7 and on March 10 I woke up with 3 inches of snow on the ground.  My students will be monitoring the roads this week and with the 60 degree predicted temperatures this week who knows what will be found on the road.  We welcome any stories about your experiences with animals.  Send them to drsplatt@comast.net or post them on the blog.  Dr. Splatt