Driving I-65 in Alabama

Due to personal reasons, I’ve been traveling up and down Interstate 65 for the past 14 months or so. Along the way, you begin to notice certain landmarks. For instance, the giant peach water tower in Clanton; the big, the inescapable confederate flag flapping in the wind; and the sign that forewarns us if we don’t go to church the devil is going to get us! However, lately, I’ve noticed something else that I have not normally taken note of along that long stretch of highway: deer carcasses.

The first time I noticed one was by chance. I was driving along when I noticed the proverbial blue lights from the car of a highway patrolman. That’s a very common sight – nothing unusual there. My first notion was he had pulled over a speeding driver. I’m no light foot, but some people think you should drive at least 90 mph when traveling either direction on 65. That wasn’t the case, however. For, you see, as soon as I moved over from the right lane to place distance between my vehicle and what I perceived to be a soon-to-be-ticketed driver, I noticed a huge deer lying on the left shoulder of the roadway, which caused me to glance back over to the right. And, that’s when I saw it – the driver’s front bumper on his SUV had been almost totally ripped off!

Well, since that day in August, I’ve taken that trip numerous times again – just as recently as last weekend, as a matter-of-fact. I saw no less than four either fresh or repeatedly trampled over deer carcasses. I felt fear. It was broad daylight on an extremely fast-paced and busy interstate – would one leap out of the woods in front of my car? It’s difficult to continue to drive at a decent speed and watch out for darting deer at the same time. So, I guess I say all of that to say this: if you’re traveling Interstate 65, north or south, watch out for our bountiful, bouncing friends. Apparently they have not been taught the rules of the road: look both ways before crossing the interstate.

Pat Sanders