In my driving career, I haven’t run over many animals. However, I have seen many beings who are just asking for their lives to be ended.

Usually these animals are the obvious ones. You have squirrels darting inexplicably across traffic just at that moment when you drive by. They know you’re the only car and they could either go easily before you get there, or just wait a second until you pass. But no, they try to dash in between your tires.

You have the lesser-seen rabbits and frogs that end up smashed on the highway. Raccoons and skunks join the flattened squad as well. And of course there are deer.

But an armadillo? That’s what I was treated to on my way to work this morning. I briefly considered that it was before 4 a.m. and I may have been delirious. But after some further reflection, I definitely had to swerve around an armadillo. I say swerve because they are apparently the only animal that makes zero attempt to get out of the way. Maybe it thought it’s armor-looking shell was going to protect it from a Nissan at 50 mph.

The beast just slowly walked across the lane, and in the rear-view mirror I saw him go into the next lane. The car there actually came to a complete stop. That’s only lucky armadillo.