Some may find this a small issue others like me will find it huge. So upset - I killed a bird😢

[cheekycee]

I was driving down the road and there were 4 sparrows in the road. I drove toward them as always bird fly off! I didn’t see them fly off this time and looked in my rear view mirror to check I didn’t hit anything (I didn’t feel it!) I saw a small lump in the road so immediately I thought to myself I have to go back to check 1) if it is a bird and 2) if it is, can I save it in any way. I went back but it was totally dead😢😢😢. I feel heartbroken. Honestly. I teared up and I prayed for it.
why on earth did I not dodge the thing!! It was safe to swerve and I just left it upto them poor things to move on their own. Just assuming they would. Gosh I feel awful. People have said try not to worry but honestly I took an animals life! This time of year that could have been a baby chick or even a mother out searching for food for its babies😢. How do people deal with this! A bird is a bird. It’s an animal. I feel gutted!

I've wiped out a bat, a pheasant, a deer, a fox and a small bird that flew out of a hedge.

Not all in the one day. The deer was the worst, I saw it coming, across 6 lanes of motorway, I swerved into the hardshoulder so the deer hit the side of my car instead of head on into my grill. It did get up and stagger off, but it didn't look in a good way.

These things happen unfortunately, but just think - crows are better at avoiding traffic and the roadkill will keep them fed and happy....

I understand OP - I’d be devastated too. But it wasn’t your fault - we are taught not to serve things as it’s dangerous. And birds normally do fly off. I think some people can be quite matter of fact about these things (I wish I could be). But I’d be upset too.

You will forget about it soon!

I killed a pheasant on the motorway years ago and it really upset me. I'm sorry this happened to you but sadly we cause damage with our human lifestyle. Hopefully it died instantly.

I’d be upset as well. However, remember it was an accident.

Awful feeling isn’t it? I hate nighttime driving due to a fear of hitting wildlife that come out at night. Stems from hitting a deer on a country lane about 6 years ago, I’ll never forget it

The bird might of already been dead possibly? That might explain the group of sparrows in the road as it’s usually crows, pigeons, magpies, bigger bird generally that you see hanging around in the road not sparrows.

I'd be upset too. But they do normally fly away, so I'd assume it was already hurt or unwell in some way. So it could even be that perhaps you did it a favour by providing a quick end rather than a lengthy painful death.

Over the past 40 years I have unfortunately killed 3 cats, one dog, 1 pheasant and a deer. Probably numerous birds as well. Have never been involved in an accident with another car/bicycle/pedestrian. Animals are very unpredictable, and it doesn't matter how careful you are sometimes collisions are unavoidable.

Ahhh so sorry to hear, it is such an awful feeling. And it's very heartsore, just try be kind to yourself it was an accident. We live and we can learn from moments. I know it's hard because we obsess over every detail of how we could have done differently; and don't get yourself stuck in that loop. Give yourself a moment to cry and be sad, then forgive yourself. And also acknowledge your own good nature, also be positive and encouraging to yourself. You a beautiful soul, you have such empathy, care and kindness, don't forget to also appreciate that about yourself.

This made me remember the time I accidentally killed a frog. I was upset for a really long time, it was awful. I felt sick.
Not over it now quite honestly and it was years ago.
I totally understand this. Hugs.

OP please stop feeling bad.. they normally fly away and swerving could have killed you. It only takes one sudden serve to end up in a ditch. I am a huge animal lover but you are more important than a sparrow.

Are you sure it wasn’t dead already?

You didn't do it on purpose @cheekycee It was an accident.

Bless you for feeling bad, it shows you're a good/nice person. 🤗

Please don't beat yourself up about it.

Hmm not sure OP will forget about it. I accidentally drove over a rabbit in Orkney in 1998 & I still feel guilty. 😬

I understand. I stepped on a snail on my garden path and feel bad. The worst was being on a motorway and a pheasant flew into my car from nowhere. I had to drive past it every day afterwards. I wouldn't never do that deliberately and felt like a big a-hole but I know it was a mistake.

I think that this time of year especially there are young and stupid creatures around. Some of them will have close escapes and grow up cautious and others will die. It's not just with cars, there are loads of dangers of all kinds. In a way it's the natural order of things, survival of the fittest, and I expect not as bad for the species in general as other things that humans do like removing their natural environment, using too much pesticides or having groundwater pollution.

Oh Sweetie.

I ran over a cat once. It was hideous. I have never forgotten it. It was an accident and you must take heart from the fact you did not meant to do it.

Oh bless you, I'd be absolutely devastated too, but unfortunately it is just one of those things!

I hit a grouse once. I couldn't even brake as there was a car up my bum behind me. It seemed to literally throw itself into the way.

I still feel bad about it. My young DC was in the car too so it was especially bad. DC was reassuring me that the grouse was in heaven now.

Eek. Yes I’d feel the same. I’m hoping a bird is less traumatic than a rabbit/cat/deer. I would never get over those.

OP - like others have said, for it not to
fly away it may well have already injured and you put it out of its misery. I’d tell myself that!

If it makes you feel better OP, I hit a rabbit recently and feel terrible. 😢 He was on the road so I started braking and he ran to the side so I thought he was going to get off. Nope! He suddenly darted back the other way. And then back to the left. It was like he malfunctioned, he just kept darting back and forth across the road. I couldn’t fully stop in time so I thought I’d try to go over the top of him and hopefully he’d freeze under the car. Nope! He darted straight into my left tyre and killed himself. I was devastated but he wouldn’t get out of the way! Or at least hold still so I could avoid him. 😢

I also hit a deer last year but I actually don’t feel bad about that at all because it flew out of a bush and landed on the bonnet of my car and got launched into oblivion and I didn’t even know it was there until it landed on me. Stupid arsehole American deer. 🤬🤬

I was a passenger in a car when the driver ran over a cat. Felt it as we drove over it. The driver was a vegan as well.

That must have been terrifying! Could have been so dangerous for you

Sorry, OP! I understand your devastation. It's just so sad. 💐

I killed a pheasant today. No doubt about it.

I could not do anything to avoid. Car behind too close for braking hard (funny how that backed off after it had a shower of feathers...). String of oncoming cars so too dangerous to swerve. I doubt that I would have missed anyway as it strolled out so close with so little reaction time.

It's pants but there wasn't any safe alternative and I'm feeling quite pragmatic about it. Small, grim consolation, I was thorough and it didn't have time to suffer.