Thursday, May 20, 2010

Young Red Ant Struck, Killed On Local Sidewalk


Lynnwood, WA

Reports of ant sightings in local neighborhoods today ended with sadness just hours later when a popular young Red Ant was struck by a pedestrian and killed on a sunny sidewalk.

The ant that cats saw earlier that day was likely the same ant that was killed, police said.

The ant was hit after 12 p.m. while carrying a large cracker crumb and traveling southbound towards 196th Street on the sidewalk of 64th Avenue. No cats were injured.


This witness called police, but sadly it was too late

Wildlife officers think the ant most likely came from an ant colony located in a crack in the asphalt near Trader Joe‘s off Aurora just one block away.

The ant, a 9-week-old Red Ant named Sidney, was “probably just looking for food and got lost,” neighbors said.

“Ants are social insects,” said Jeanette, a 1-year-old Red Ant who lived with Sidney. “He was always popular here, he had many friends. The truth is we don’t really know what Sid was doing out alone.”


Friends said Sidney loved Grande Chai no-whip non-fat Mochas in the morning

The first report came early Wednesday morning from cats in the neighborhood. The ant was spotted dropping off a package at a UPS store and was said to have visited the Gourmet Latte espresso stand earlier in the day.

Police officers searched garbage cans around the area but didn't find Sid, who was reported missing that morning. “We were hoping he’d find his way back (to the colony),” police said.

Scarface, a 14-year-old, neutered, Domestic Short Hair, was driving to work about 8:30 a.m. when he spotted the ant sitting on the end of a popsicle stick. “At first I thought it was a great big dog,” he said. He called 911 after realizing it was an ant.


Sidney lived with 25,000 friends in an ant colony near this Trader Joe’s location

The ant ran into someone's back yard. Scarface was saddened to hear it was killed later that night. The ant likely came looking for food, which is common this time of year, police said.

About 25,000 ants live in the Trader Joe‘s parking lot, according to Fish and Wildlife. They typically avoid people and cats but can wander into residential areas.

Sharyn Thoma-Guay reporter-at-large

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

He was carrying a large cracker crumb, how sad! His family must be in mourning.

HAHAHHAHAHA

oh my god you made me sad for an ant. For a second...

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Poor Sid. Mom must have been really mean as a kid - she used to put ants on spider webs to watch the battle of the spider and the ant.

Woos - Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

Was he taking dinner home to his family?

Carolina Cats said...

Soooo sad

Cat Mandu said...

That must have been some funeral, with 25,000 of his closest friends attending.
Mandu

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