Editing Roadkill (section)

===Small animals===
Squirrels, rabbits, birds, or other small animals are often crushed by vehicles. Serious accidents may result from motorists swerving or stopping for squirrels in the road.<ref name=Marshall>{{cite news |last=Marshall |first=Edward|title=Squirrel blamed for accident: Couple struck head-on after woman swerves to avoid animal |url=http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/505127/Squirrel-blamed-for-accident.html |access-date=6 May 2012 |newspaper=[[The Journal (West Virginia newspaper)|The Journal]] (Martinsburg, WV)|date=March 31, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102003457/http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/505127/Squirrel-blamed-for-accident.html |archive-date=2 November 2013 }}</ref><ref name=CST>{{cite news|title=Driver says squirrels made him crash into garage |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/8018878-418/driver-says-squirrels-made-him-crash-into-garage.html |access-date=19 April 2012 |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |date=October 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106204400/http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/8018878-418/driver-says-squirrels-made-him-crash-into-garage.html |archive-date=January 6, 2012 }}</ref><ref name=Whidbey>{{cite web|title=Confused squirrel causes three-car accident|url=http://www.southwhidbeyrecord.com/news/21576764.html|work=South Whidbey Record|publisher=Sound Publishing Inc. |access-date=19 April 2012|date=25 Jun 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101235927/http://www.southwhidbeyrecord.com/news/21576764.html |archive-date=1 November 2013 }}</ref><ref name="NatPost">{{cite news |title=Vancouver island driver who hit the brakes for squirrel causes huge four-vehicle crash |url=http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/vancouver-island-driver-who-hit-the-brakes-for-squirrel-on-causes-huge-four-vehicle-crash |access-date=2016-02-28|work=National Post|publisher=Postmedia Network Inc. |date=May 26, 2015}}</ref> Such evasive maneuvers are often unproductive, since small rodents and birds are much more agile and quicker to react than motorists in heavy vehicles. There is very little a driver can do to avoid an unpredictably darting squirrel or rabbit, or even to intentionally hit one. The suggested course of action is to continue driving in a predictable, safe manner, and let the small animal decide on the spur of the moment which way to run or fly; the majority of vehicular encounters end with no harm to either party.<ref name="Tchir">{{cite news |last1=Tchir |first1=Jason |title=What should you do if you see an animal on the road?|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/culture/commuting/what-should-you-do-if-you-see-an-animal-on-the-road/article19494060/ |access-date=2016-02-28|work=The Globe and Mail|publisher=The Globe and Mail Inc. |date=July 8, 2014}}</ref><ref name=NoSwerve>{{cite news|title=Swerving can be worse than hitting animal on road|url=http://yourlife.usatoday.com/parenting-family/pets/story/2012-01-11/Swerving-can-be-worse-than-hitting-animal-on-road/52495428/1 |access-date=6 May 2012|newspaper=USA Today |date=11 Jan 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504083202/http://yourlife.usatoday.com/parenting-family/pets/story/2012-01-11/Swerving-can-be-worse-than-hitting-animal-on-road/52495428/1 |archive-date=4 May 2012}}</ref><ref name="OntHbk" />