Meet California's Dr. Roadkill
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a></p><img width="250" vspace="4" hspace="4" height="343" border="1" align="right" alt="roadkill" class="rightborder" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/10/roadkill_250.jpg" />If you hit an animal with your car, do you stop and take a picture of your <strike>victory against nature</strike> kill? Did you know that someone out there is snapping pics of the deceased critters? His name is Ron Ringen and his friends refer to him as Dr. Roadkill.<br />
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According to <em>The New York Times</em>, Ringen is not a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/14/uk-man-selling-roadkill-as-art-for-35-000/">"unique" artist trying to turn a profit</a> but rather a retired veterinarian helping wildlife researchers. His goal is to log enough data (animal type, location, etc.) to better understand the impact of roadways on the surrounding animal populations. This information will go a long way in <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/14/colorado-developing-road-kill-prevention-system/">developing new methods of preventing or reducing animal/car interactions</a>.<br />
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Ringen has found and photographed over 1,400 animals, and after he gets his shot, he then records the location in a GPS device. The animals he has found have ranged in size from tiny sparrows to a 1,500 pound black bull.<br />
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Mr, Ringen is not the only one scouring the blacktop for roadkill. There are volunteers across the state assisting in the capture of information. <a href="http://www.wildlifecrossing.net/">WildlifeCrossing.ne t</a> has nearly 300 registered users and they have information on nearly 7,000 dead animals. The California program is doing well and it has recently added a second state, Maine, to their website.<br />
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If you have some spare time, a camera and a GPS device you can help track the pattern of roadkill incidents. Safer roads equal a better driving experience, and that's something we can all get behind.<br />
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[Source: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/13/technology/13roadkill.html?_r=2&em"> The New York Times</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/16/meet-californias-dr-roadkill/">Meet California's Dr. Roadkill</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 08:32:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/16/meet-californias-dr-roadkill/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19631566/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/16/meet-californias-dr-roadkill/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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