Summer is the perfect time to hit the highway with the family for a road trip, but before you get behind the wheel, check out these tips from PETA on how to protect the lives of animals that may also be on the road.
Use defensive driving techniques: Drive slowly at night, honk your horn at animals before they approach the road, and flash your high beams at animals to prevent an accident. If you’re doing heavy highway driving this summer, you can also invest in a deer whistle, a device that’s inaudible to human ears and attaches to the front bumper of your car. The deer whistle makes a noise that deer can hear while you’re driving that deters them from running into the road.
Carry an animal rescue kit: By keeping an emergency rescue kit in your trunk to help wounded animals, you can aid an animal until help arrives. Be sure to include the following: dog biscuits(these organic treats by Max & Ruffy are good!), cat food, and water to lure the animals; a long rope or leash that can be looped into a collar to capture animals; a bandage for a muzzle; a collapsible cardboard carrier for small animals; a blanket or towel; a brown paper bag and clothespin to keep the bag shut forcarrying injured birds; and a list of emergency phone numbers of veterinarians, humane societies, animal shelters, and wildlife rehabilitators.
In the unfortunate instance that you do come upon an animal that has been killed by a car, either move him or her out of the roadway yourself, or immediately report the incident to the local animal control department.
Summer road trips can be a lot of fun, and it takes very little effort to help protect animals that you may come across along the way.
Do you have any tips on how to keep animals safe on the road? Share them in the comments section below!
 
Photo: maineaudubon.org