Road kill recovery team feeds the hungry
Story Published: Oct 26, 2006 at 4:48 PM PST
Story Updated: Oct 27, 2006 at 12:56 PM PST
By Travis Mayfield
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SPOKANE -- Oh, Deer!
The number of drivers hitting deer on Washington roadways is dramatically up, but some of that meat is actually ending up on the dinner plates of those who need it most.
State Farm Insurance has released claim statistics on the number of deer-related collisions. The data indicates a 19% increase in big game related car crashes this year over last in Washington.
"Providing up-to-date safety information for our customers and other drivers, helps them stay out of harm's way and better respond in an emergency situation," said State Farm's Nancy Carpenter in a written statement.
But the numbers also help a unique group of volunteers in Spokane prepare for the coming deer-crash season.
"We set up a program where by we could go out and salvage these hurt or killed animals, provided their done fairy freshly," says Lloran Johnson of the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council.
"(We) bring them into our building where we are our own market and dress the animals out and take them down to the Union Gospel Mission for food."
INWC has a special agreement with Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife that allows their volunteers to recover big game from streets and highways.
Johnson says Washington State Patrol troopers, Spokane County Sheriff's deputies, and Fish and Wildlife agents are always on the watch and will call the organization directly if they see one dead or dying on the side of the road.
"Daily, as a matter of fact this week I think we've salvaged 8 deer," says Johnson.
INWC only salvages freshly killed big game like deer, elk, and moose. Johnson says they're glad to provide meat to the Union Gospel Mission, a homeless shelter in Spokane. The meat helps that non-profit keep costs down. It also provides a nutritional value for the men the Mission serves.
"As you know by state regulation we're not allowed to salvage that for personal use, but there sure are some beautiful animals that go over there for food," says Johnson. |
