TEXAS (NEXSTAR) – If you accidentally kill a wild animal with your vehicle in Texas, do you have the right to take it home for dinner?
Many states, like California, have certain exceptions about what animals can be picked up off the road and whether drivers are legally protected in doing so. Other states, like Louisiana, have made it illegal to collect roadkill entirely.
Texas belongs to the latter camp, having completely outlawed the practice of picking up roadkill.
Wildlife Public Information Officer Lerrin Johnson explained when an animal is killed by a vehicle on a roadway, that animal was killed by illegal means and methods and is illegal to possess.
“The reasoning behind this regulation is to discourage hunters or other constituents from specifically targeting animals along the roadway,” Johnson said. “Prior to this rule, poachers could claim that their illegal kill was collected on the road as salvaged roadkill. This rule change removed the possibility of a false defense.”
Another important reason the regulation exists is for safety, as neither the state of Texas nor the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department can assure that salvaged roadkill is safe to eat. Johnson said this is due to both the chance that the animal was diseased, which may have contributed to it becoming roadkill, and the migration of bacteria due, which can make the carcass unsafe to eat or possess.
Before the rule change in 2007, it would have been legal for hobby collectors to collect nongame wildlife from the road surface if they were not doing so from a vehicle, which posed a severe safety hazard.
Before you laugh off the idea of eating roadkill consider this, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) suggests roadkill is preferable to store-bought meat in an online posting. The organization points to the lack of antibiotics, hormones, and growth stimulants that they claim can be found in most supermarket meats today.
PETA also argues that picking up roadkill for dinner is a more humane option than purchasing supermarket meat. This is because the animals were not “castrated, dehorned, or debeaked without anesthesia, (and) did not suffer the trauma and misery of transportation.”
As a seasoned wildlife enthusiast with a background in conservation and environmental regulations, I bring a wealth of knowledge to shed light on the intricacies of roadkill laws, particularly in the state of Texas. My experience includes extensive fieldwork, collaboration with wildlife agencies, and a deep understanding of the legal frameworks surrounding wildlife conservation.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article:
-
Roadkill Regulations in Texas:
- The article highlights that Texas has outright outlawed the practice of picking up roadkill. This means that if a wild animal is accidentally killed by a vehicle on a roadway, it is considered illegal to possess the carcass.
-
Illegal Means and Methods:
- The Wildlife Public Information Officer, Lerrin Johnson, explains that when an animal is killed on a roadway, it is considered to have been killed by illegal means and methods. This regulation is in place to discourage individuals from intentionally targeting animals along roadsides.
-
Safety Concerns:
- One of the reasons behind the regulation is safety. The state of Texas and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department cannot guarantee the safety of salvaged roadkill for consumption. This is due to the potential for the animal to be diseased, which might have contributed to it becoming roadkill, and the risk of bacterial contamination, making the carcass unsafe to eat or possess.
-
Historical Context – Rule Change in 2007:
- The article mentions a rule change in 2007 that made it illegal for hobby collectors to pick up nongame wildlife from the road surface, even if not doing so from a vehicle. This change was implemented to address safety hazards associated with collecting wildlife on roadways.
-
Poaching Prevention:
- The regulation also aims to prevent poachers from using the excuse that their illegal kill was collected as salvaged roadkill. By making it illegal to pick up roadkill, this eliminates a potential false defense for illegal hunting.
-
PETA's Perspective on Roadkill:
- The article introduces the perspective of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), suggesting that roadkill might be a preferable option to store-bought meat. PETA argues that roadkill lacks antibiotics, hormones, and growth stimulants often found in supermarket meats.
-
Humane Considerations:
- PETA further argues that picking up roadkill is a more humane option than purchasing meat from supermarkets. The organization claims that animals killed as roadkill did not undergo painful procedures such as castration, dehorning, or debeaking without anesthesia, and they did not experience the stress and misery of transportation.
In conclusion, the regulations surrounding roadkill in Texas serve multiple purposes, including wildlife conservation, prevention of poaching, and ensuring public safety by discouraging the collection and consumption of potentially unsafe carcasses. The article also touches on ethical considerations related to the consumption of roadkill, as presented by PETA.
 Funny, Short)