Be vigilant on the roads is the message from the Department of Environment with apparent increased sightings of agoutis dead on the side of the roads in the eastern districts.
The agouti, which is non-native to the Cayman Islands, is not protected under the law like the country’s endemic animals, which include the Cayman parrot and the blue and rock iguanas.
The Compass photographed six lifeless agoutis on the road on separate occasions throughout Bodden Town in April.
The DoE confirmed that due to the agouti being an ‘alien species’ they do not keep records of the animals, meaning there are no official statistics on the death toll from roadkills.
Despite that, Judy Hurlston, DoE’s public education and outreach officer, urged motorists to be cautious, especially when it comes to Cayman’s endangered native creatures, such as rock iguanas, which have also been victims of roadkills.
“We do not have any advice on their protection other than perhaps just slow down on the roads,” she told the Compass. “Keep an eye out for them as we would for our native blue and rock iguanas, hickatees and crabs.”
Outside of being killed on the road, the agouti, known locally as the ‘Cayman rabbit’, is commonly hunted as a garden pest or to enjoy as a meal.
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