Squirrels & Super Troopers!
Happy Camperbus about 1 month ago // 2 responses // Outdoor Adventure Happy Camper Bus

I have attempted to catch some really gruesome roadkill photographs while gliding across the country. Some of them will have a debut here soon, others are stuck on my crashed hard drive for the present.

This photo here is sidewalk squirrel kill found in Boise, Idaho. I am attempting to use it as a segue to a silly anecdote that revolved around a roadkill capture and a unique Highway Patrol experience, not to mention my first ever encounter with a badger.

While cruising the Highway in Boise, I spotted a fairly large roadkill specimen off to the far side, where the fast lane goes. We have become quite adept at pulling over, backing up, circling around and what have you to photograph such an event.

With the Bus in proper position, I hopped out to get a gander and a series of gory photos when the notion that I was faced with a previously never-before-seen by me animal, yet it was one that I recognized nonetheless.

“Is that a ….badger?” oozed out of my mouth as slow and thick as the last drops of syrup working to pour itself out of the bottle.

A badger indeed, I was giddy with excitement, squealing, jumping up and down and hunkering down incredibly close to revel in my new found discovery. After quite sometime of standing on the wrong side of the freeway, Bus stopped in a ditch, I noticed a Highway Patrolman pulling over, obviously ready to question us. He got out of the care and asked us to state our buisness. I told him of the across the country roadkill series. He was concerned about our saftey, though was not harsh or crass at all. Smick chimed in pointing out the mess on the side of the road and exclaimed “Look….it is a BADGER!” The officer was not affected in the least, he must see them all the time in those parts. He was calm and replyed “Yes, I can see that from here”.

He did ask us to leave the side of the highway of course, but he was so patience and seemed genuinely courteous and concerned. There was never a feel of being interrogated or in the wrong. It was so appreciated. Man, I gotta tell you guys…the cops in Idaho got it going on!