Maine's Squirrel Population Growth Leads To More Roadkill

AUGUSTA, Maine - Officials say there are more squirrels scampering around southern Maine - and more of them are getting run over by cars as a result.Maine Audubon biologist Sarah Haggerty says she's surprised by the number of squirrels she's seen around the state. The Portland Press Herald reports a bumper crop of acorns and pine cones are the reasons for the boom in small rodent populations.
 
Haggerty says it seems plentiful food sources and protective snow cover over the winter is contributing to the "population irruption,'' a term that means a spike in population.
 
The Maine Department of Transportation says crews have noticed more roadkill this year that needs to be cleaned up.
 
Crews clean up roadkill as it is reported, but the department says there's not much else to do.