CARBONDALE, Ill. – The view along Illinois highways this summer should be beautiful — for the turkey vultures.
The state's transportation department says it won't be picking up as much roadkill left along roads because it spent too much of its budget during the winter.
IDOT says it spent more than twice the allotted $40 million on clearing ice and snow removal because of rising fuel costs and harsh weather last winter.
Dead animals in driving lanes and any deemed hazardous to motorists will be removed. But much of the rest will be left for scavengers.
Kevin Gillespie of the Jackson County Health Department says the roadkill might be smelly and gruesome, but it shouldn't lead to any health risks.
The department does not log the amount of roadkill it clears.
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