Bovat is spending this summer patrolling for roadkill and debris along the 400 miles of road in AOT's District 8, which is headquartered in St. Albans and stretches north from Milton to Canada, west to Alburg and east toward Johnson and Eden. In fact, most AOT employees, even supervisors and foremen, are required to pick up dead animals smaller than deer if they see them within view of drivers. Some guys get sick, but most get used to it and try not to think about that part of their job, said Andrew Masson, who has been with AOT more than 30 years. It is just an unpleasant fringe duty that comes with an otherwise good job, AOT employees say. There is a craft to clearing roadkill.
Skunks are the worst.
Dig the hole first, so the carcass isn't sitting too close for too long. Baillergeon disposed of four animals Thursday, one in front of a store in Milton. Baillargeon had to put it in the back of his truck and drive a short distance before he could find a place to bury it. Summer is the worst season to deal with dead animals. Heat decomposes the remains quickly.