Over the past few years I've noticed something that makes me scratch my head in question. I regularly drive the 18 mile stretch to and from Flamingo; the "stretch" is what we call the lonely and dangerous section of US1 that starts around Lake Surprise and ends in Florida City. There's not much there except a couple of old marinas and the Everglades… sadly, there are lots of roadside memorials and additionally a handful of Florida Highway Patrol officers in tricked out Dodge Chargers waiting to write you a speeding ticket and if you are dumb enough to be drinking, that usually includes a quick ride to the Monroe County jail.

I'm not sure when this started but one day a few years ago I noticed what I thought was a dead possum on the side of the road painted florescent orange, then minutes later some other unidentifiable critter about the size of a cheeseburger; also a road kill victim with the same orange paint job.

On some days as I drive up and down the stretch there will be dozens of road kill victims; I've seen everything from buzzards, small gators, raccoons, turtles, snakes, otters, American crocs and deer to mention a few... Again, all painted that same fluorescent orange.

I don't know if something like this bothers you but wouldn't you think that the Florida Dept. of Transportation ‘FDOT' workers would find it easier and more cost effective to pick up these dead animals right there on the spot? I'm assuming a second crew comes along a picks them up but in the meantime what about scavengers such as possums, gators, crows and buzzards that eat the carcasses; surely that florescent orange paint can't be doing them any good.

I would liked to have provided some documentation such as a photo or video but I didn't want to get out of my truck on the stretch and perhaps get mowed down by a spring-breaker on his way to Key West; FDOT might spray me orange as well and leave me laying around for a few days. It's great to know our tax dollars are working for us in so many ways!