Oh deer! Please watch for critters

This summer has been a bloodbath along Waikiki Road.

Two fawns and one doe were killed in a three-day span by speeding motorists along Waikiki, and longtime neighborhood resident Bridget Baker has had enough.

“People don’t even care anymore. I just don’t understand it,” said Baker of the drivers who killed the mamma deer and babies. “The speed limit is supposed to be 35 mph. They don’t do 35 mph. Some do 60 or 70.”

Baker has taken to patrolling the road on foot when deer come out in the late afternoon and early evening. She waves a sign at motorists urging them to slow down.

Overall, road kill deaths seem to be down in Spokane County this year, but the dry, hot weather is increasingly causing animals to come into irrigated areas (like our back yards) in search of something good to eat, explained Wanda Clifford of the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council.

In the Waikiki case, the deer are headed toward the river for a drink.

Spokane County has received fewer reports of pets dead along its roads, said Nancy Hill, director of Spokane County Regional Animal Care and Protection Services (SCRAPS).

So far this year, 175 roadkill deaths have been reported to SCRAPS, compared to 196 at this time last year, she said.

SCRAPS picks up dead cats and dogs along Spokane County roads.

Spokane County road maintenance workers do the job for wild animals.

Some of the worst spots are in the Glenrose area near Browne’s Mountain and along Dishman-Mica Road in the Spokane Valley, said Tammie Williams.

The Wildlife Council’s roadkill recovery committee will pick up and butcher recently killed big-game animals and take the meat to the Union Gospel Mission.

Committee co-chair Arnie Powell said that he doesn’t go out on many calls this time of year, though. The hot weather makes the animals decompose too fast.

Bottom line. Those signs with the jumping deer on them mean something. So particularly at dusk, keep an eye out for deer.

Already brain damaged?

Getting There reader Marion Severud reports that many bicyclists — helmets or no — are riding on the sidewalk over the Post Street Bridge downtown.

Bad idea.

Not only is it illegal to ride bikes on downtown sidewalks, but the sidewalk over that bridge carries many downtown workers between cheap parking north of the river and their jobs. Plus there’s a blind curve.

If you want to ride on the sidewalk, stick to the neighborhood streets where it’s legal.

America West fined

The U.S. Department of Transportation fined America West Airlines $850,000 last week for its poor treatment of passengers with disabilities.

Specifically, America West didn’t help them board and exit planes in a timely manner, causing some to even miss connections.

Too bad they can’t be fined for trapping us on those teeny planes with no food.

Weekly warning

Spokane traffic cops will be looking this week for speeders, red-light runners, wrong-way drivers and other ne’er-do-well drivers near Colton Street and Magnesium Road.

Don’t know what drivers up there are up to, but this is the second time since the police started their weekly emphasis patrols that they have targeted this location.

Chance to speak up

The Washington State Department of Transportation is preparing for improvements along Highway 291 from Division Street and Francis Avenue to Tum Tum, and they want to know what you think.

If you have ideas about where the problems on this route are and how they could be fixed, attend one of the “listening post” meetings this week.

They are Tuesday at the Safeway store at Monroe and Francis, Thursday at the Suncrest Outpost and Friday at the Fred Meyer at Addison and Francis. Stop by between 4 and 7 p.m. to talk to transportation staff.

Slow going

Westbound Interstate 90 will be reduced to two lanes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Sunset Hill as crews remove two overhead signs and a catwalk. The sign bridge was hit by a vehicle and will need to be replaced at a later date.

Fifth and Altamont will be closed today and Tuesday for paving. A detour will be in place, but it could slow you down some.

Spokane County paving crews will be working this week near Newman Lake. Watch for delays on many different streets in that area.