Spotting a heap on the side of the road, Bovat quickly pulls onto the shoulder, turns on the flashing light atop his Agency of Transportation truck and jumps out. He pulls a shovel from the bed of the truck and approaches his quarry - a rather ragged dead skunk. Bovat digs a small hole next to the pavement, uses his shovel blade to scoot the corpse across the shoulder and into the hole. Bovat performs each week. Bovat laughs when asked if anyone volunteers for roadkill duty.
Somebody has to do it.
Today, on Labor Day, it's appropriate to think of workers like Sonny Bovat who toil at jobs few would embrace. Dead animals on the road can be dangerous to motorists, who often swerve instinctively to avoid them. Carcasses lure scavengers, which can pose additional traffic hazards. The corpses can also present health risks. Scavengers can carry diseases into other populations.