Notes

Squirrel: 140817_00001_001

This squirrel was first observed at c. 11:00am on Sunday August 19th 2014. The animal was clearly identified as a squirrel at that time.

By the time the road kill event was evidenced some 3.5 hours later, the animal was no longer identifiable as a squirrel. This leads us to believe the animal was killed not long before it was first observed (perhaps within the previous half hour). It also evidences the fast deterioration of animals killed in the center of lanes, making it difficult to observe the animal (especially in wet conditions) beyond a day of such events occurring (within such locations with traffic density, speed and road layout etc).

It should also be noted that the squirrel was killed as the road was approaching a junction with a round-about, so traffic was slowing (or supposed to be slowing) at that point. This is important as it should have been easier for drivers to have slowed for the animal, allowing it safer passage across the road.

From the initial observation, the squirrel is believed to have crossed from the opposite side of the road (the Addingham side) to which it was observed. This can not however be seen within the evidenced event.

It should also be noted that there is woodland on both sides of the road.

About 100 yards approaching the squirrel, there is a bend in the road, which causes the visibility of approaching traffic to be reduced. The road is also going downhill. Cars were driving through the RKE location within 5 to 8 seconds of travelling around the bend. This means the squirrel had insufficient time to cross the road, even if the road appeared clear to the squirrel as it started to cross the road.

Outstanding actions - Determine the following:

1. The speed of traffic approaching the junction, including the speed as the traffic comes around the bend and at what point the traffic starts to slow.
2. The distance across the road the animal has to travel (
   according to Google Maps this distance is c. 15 meters
   ).
3. The distance the animal had travelled before it was hit. (
   based on the Google Maps measure of the total road width the squirrel is estimated to have crossed c. 9 meters of the road.
   )
4. The location of road signs approaching the junction and what those road signs were advising to vehicle drivers. (
   According to Google Maps' Street View the driver was warned by Primary Route Sign before they entered the bend in the road. The sign warned the driver of the approaching roundabout. This sign is approximately 116 meters from the squirrel. The sign is approximately 35 meters before the driver enters into the bend and approximately 85 meters before the driver exits the n=bend. At this point the driver has visibility of the roundabout c. 67 meters ahead and of the squirrel which is c. 28 meters ahead.
   )
5. Comparison with other animals killed near the same stop.
6. Evidence of other RKEs near the kill site, that haven't been recorded.