Encounter's with Wildlife
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386 days
derek5 posted 17 weeks ago.
Peta.... just another demographic that will flip us cyclists off. Not only to we clog up rural roads on the weekends, but now we have no regard for wildlife. If we could only figure out a way to pollute when we swi.... o yeah that's right I pee every time I come in contact with my wetsuit. We triathletes are such inconsiderate people. I wish I could be more like my environmentally conscious neighbor next door who is on his way to Mcdonalds in his hummer (ok rant over!). I hope your bike and body is ready for the race. That is hilarious I am sure you will laugh about it once your bike is back in one piece.
688
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320 days
jsk85 posted 17 weeks ago.
I tend to yell at birds and squirrels that I happen to see that may decide to "do something crazy". Sure to onlooking people I seem crazy, but it keeps me on the wheels.
Sorry about the bars, good thing there was no more damage...that's some expensive to replace parts.
Speaking of wildlife encounters, I was on a trail last night that rode through a small wooded section and, lo and behold, there was a deer right on the path. I came to a dead stop 10-15ft away from it (before I was approaching at 17mph or so and assumed it would notice me and take off). It merely raised its head and engaged me in a staring contest.
I was taken aback having never been directly confronted by a deer before, so I stepped off my bike and started waving my arms...no reaction. Then I yelled...still nothing. I wasn't about to turn around, nor was I gonna run up to the renegade deer and take a hoof in the chest. I merely remounted my bike and rolled a little closer, but sort of in an arcing shape to stay as wide as possible. I was basically walking the bike so I could keep a close eye on this clearly dominant creature (in the deer world). After I got definately within 10 feet, it just casually strolled off into the woods, more out of boredom.
I continued my ride a little relieved that I had not been the latest victim of a ride by deer mauling, but at the same time my pride was a little hurt that I'm apparently not a formidable presence enough to frighten a deer...even when upon my trusty steed barrelling head on at it.
599
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196 days
jtrimom posted 17 weeks ago.
that's pretty funny- but I am sorry for your bike. The closest encounters I have had with wildlife is an armadillo crossing the hike/bike trail (no drama, thank goodness) and a few rats (I like to think they were bunnies with long tails) scampering past on my early morning runs...they usually raise my heart rate a bit as I scream and wiggle all the cootie feelings away. Also, in this nasty steambath we call our home, there are huge swarms of teeny tiny insects that rush into my face, making aweful buzzy sounds in my ears and making me gag for swallowing ten at a time (protein)- I take a deep breath, then push on until I encounter the next swarm- it's usually right at dawn, but once the sun comes up, they are gone, but then, it's like 95 degrees, so bugs, or sticky heat....it's a toss-up somedays.
599
Member
196 days
jtrimom posted 17 weeks ago.
jsk85 wrote:
I tend to yell at birds and squirrels that I happen to see that may decide to "do something crazy". Sure to onlooking people I seem crazy, but it keeps me on the wheels.Sorry about the bars, good thing there was no more damage...that's some expensive to replace parts.
Speaking of wildlife encounters, I was on a trail last night that rode through a small wooded section and, lo and behold, there was a deer right on the path. I came to a dead stop 10-15ft away from it (before I was approaching at 17mph or so and assumed it would notice me and take off). It merely raised its head and engaged me in a staring contest.
Don't you sometimes wish you had a camera while you're running/biking?
I was taken aback having never been directly confronted by a deer before, so I stepped off my bike and started waving my arms...no reaction. Then I yelled...still nothing. I wasn't about to turn around, nor was I gonna run up to the renegade deer and take a hoof in the chest. I merely remounted my bike and rolled a little closer, but sort of in an arcing shape to stay as wide as possible. I was basically walking the bike so I could keep a close eye on this clearly dominant creature (in the deer world). After I got definately within 10 feet, it just casually strolled off into the woods, more out of boredom.
I continued my ride a little relieved that I had not been the latest victim of a ride by deer mauling, but at the same time my pride was a little hurt that I'm apparently not a formidable presence enough to frighten a deer...even when upon my trusty steed barrelling head on at it.
599
Member
196 days
jtrimom posted 17 weeks ago.
Sorry, I didn't mean to post my comment in the MIDDLE of your post, jsk85
I'll try again:
Don't you sometimes wish you had your camera while you're running/biking?
688
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320 days
jsk85 posted 17 weeks ago.
I couldn't find your comment before, glad you reposted. Yeah definately, I tend to find a lot of nice scenery and wildlife on those long and low ride days when I just explore more than train
4499
Member
1645 days
kylie posted 17 weeks ago.
ooh crazy! Sorry for the squirrel (my thoughts to its family and all) but glad you are that ok.
I have seen a number of coyotes and snakes and a couple bears while biking (and the zillions of bunnies and squirrels). Saw a couple beavers and deer and a moose on a trail run once. Never any crash-encounters though.
139
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1142 days
NotAsFast posted 17 weeks ago.
I just finished digging though my spare parts barrel and I have an older set of Aluminum bar's, that I will mount tonight. Good news is the bike is OK. I just finished cleaning it for the second time in two days, and there are no cracks anywhere in the frame or wheels, nothing I can see anyway.
Took the afternoon off work and went and saw the chiropractor, who promptly put me in the type of hold I wanted to put the damn squirrel in, fortunately no major issues, just two days off doing nothing (Which I was planning anyway) and icing a sore shoulder.
Appreciate the thoughts.
386
Member
1266 days
triNick posted 17 weeks ago.
bummer, it sucks.
I came across a wild turkey last night. It was stuck on the opposite side of the street up against a fence, of course the side we were biking on. It looked scared and was trying to get away but it kept hitting the fence., duh not to bright! Scared the heck out of my for a second. I didn't want it to figure out it could turn 180 degrees and go back to the wilderness on the opposite side of the street right in front of us.
Hopefully it eventually made it across or else someone has a nice dinner coming...
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55
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1477 days
rlauredo posted 17 weeks ago.
My old running route ten or 15 years ago, every once in a while I'd get "warning straifs" a milimeter above my scalp by some bird. Guess its nest must have been nearby. Would continue for a few hundred yards each day, both outbound and inbound. This would happen about a week at a time two or three times a year. Hate to sound like the wuss that I am, but actually kind of scary having talons touch your hair at high speed.
1192
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348 days
TriSooner posted 17 weeks ago.
Meh, squirrels are rats with fuzzy tails. Better him than you. I have been stopped in the middle of a trail run by an water moccasin. Better than getting stopped by one on a swim. Glub, glub.
3354
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1413 days
RV posted 17 weeks ago.
Hit a dog once - he was fine.
Clobbered a chipmunk - he was not fine.
Then close calls with way too many deer to count, wild turkeys and the normal rabbits and squirrels and a couple little snakes.
Raced some llamas - they were behind a fence but liked to race.
Had some kind of birds take several diving runs at me and circle overhead.
Had some coyotes run parallel with me for 1/4 mile or more when I was out running once in Co.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
316
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672 days
KitKat posted 17 weeks ago.
What an adventure! Glad to hear your ok and your bike only suffered mildly. If it's an all carbon frame I'd take it to a shop and have them inspect it. Better 4 eyes then 2 and having your for break mid ride.
I'm sure I've encountered that's squirrels relative as I have been tripped numerous times running.
Serious they should look before they cross the street.
I've also been chased by pit bull climbing up a hill. Thankfully he was overweight and possibly had ADD because he didn't last long. That's scary as shit, sure makes you pedal a lot faster.
634
Member
733 days
Ironmom posted 17 weeks ago.
Good thing you're okay, sorry to hear that your bike's not. And squirrels are more dangerous than they look. A local cyclist here was killed by a collision with a squirrel a few years ago here, no kidding! After that incident, I look at wildlife differently. There are a lot of wild turkeys here, and owls and vultures sometimes in the road, and deer and elk as well. They all seem to lurk around corners when I'm going downhill.
Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/
4499
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1645 days
kylie posted 17 weeks ago.
oooh I just remembered the ones that always scare me... peacocks! How can they just appear out of nowhere like that??
217
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232 days
iamtb13 posted 17 weeks ago.
I ran with Beads yesterday....does that count?
4499
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1645 days
kylie posted 17 weeks ago.
well I think that wildlife is loud enough that it won't really ever have stealth mode going for it ;)
545
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557 days
Socket posted 17 weeks ago.
My local wildlife:
The Esuvee!! Thankfully on its way to becoming an endangered species.
4949
Member
1727 days
beads1985 posted 17 weeks ago.
iamtb13 wrote:
I ran with Beads yesterday....does that count?
...and lived to tell the tale GRRRRRR!! ;-)
Nothing to it, but to do it
4949
Member
1727 days
beads1985 posted 17 weeks ago.
kylie wrote:
well I think that wildlife is loud enough that it won't really ever have stealth mode going for it ;)
At both ends sometimes ;-)
Nothing to it, but to do it
599
Member
196 days
jtrimom posted 17 weeks ago.
so, today, I was out doing a long bike ride (55mi or so) I was wearing a v-neck top w/ a built in bra- why is that important in a wildlife thread, you might ask...well, I am riding down a hike/bike trail when this GIGANTIC wasp/hornet flies INTO my cleavage- at which point I screamed aaaaa...aaaaa....aaaaa and screeched to a stop, where I began unceremoniously hitting my chest and looking in there to see if I could find and release or smash the bug- did I mention it was ENORMOUS- As I am smashing my boobs, I hear crunchy sounds and feel an uncomfortable stinging- so I figured I smooshed it and it's dead, so I continue on my way, creeped out, laughing (b/c I am just imagining#1 how I am going to impart this story on trifuel, and #2 what the people on the parallel busy street must have thought when they saw my little "episode/seizure".) So I get home and start peeling off my sweaty clothes, and lo and behold a HUGE wasp- STILL MOVING in the bra part of my shirt!
634
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733 days
Ironmom posted 17 weeks ago.
jtrimom wrote:
So I get home and start peeling off my sweaty clothes, and lo and behold a HUGE wasp- STILL MOVING in the bra part of my shirt!
Eeeewwwww {{{{shudder}}}}. I've gotten stung that way before and it is no fun. Also down the slots in the helmet, ick.
In the relay race my hubby and I did this last weekend some runner was chased down the road by a badger in the middle of the night!
Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/
4499
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1645 days
kylie posted 17 weeks ago.
jtrimom wrote:
did I mention it was ENORMOUS- As I am smashing my boobs...
ahhhh I don't like flying stingy things! And um... I misread the above as "did I mention I'm ENORMOUS" :)
338
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455 days
cjhoffmn posted 17 weeks ago.
Wasn't that line in the "Woody" post?
To tri or not to tri - that's not a question at all!
599
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196 days
jtrimom posted 17 weeks ago.
kylie wrote:
jtrimom wrote:did I mention it was ENORMOUS- As I am smashing my boobs...ahhhh I don't like flying stingy things! And um... I misread the above as "did I mention I'm ENORMOUS" :)
If ONLY- heehee
Well, I was contemplating skipping my lunchtime ride and subing it into an evening ride, until I looked outside and saw that it will be rather rough with a large storm front building and coming in out general direction.
Go for an hour, do 20 miles, be back just in time for a recovery meeting with the boss and those squirrels from that add decided to come out and haunt me. They knew I was coming, I can see and hear them in squirrel talk, one with his head to the road, one paw feeling for vibration saying
"We've got one boys, 60cm Felt B2, full DA, Carbon Rims, no strike that, 808's, freshly cleaned, tuned and ready to race this weekend. Assume tactical positions...."
I didnt even see it coming. Three, I mean three of the biggest squirrels ever ran out in front of me at the same time. As they rose on their hind legs to intimidate me with their big brushy tails, as if to say, this is my road, go find your own....
Well the leader went down at 23+, (that would be me). Thankfully onto the shoulder that was thankfully very soft and uncut due to the recent rain. I came out just shook up and maybe sore for a day or two, but my ride didn't make it. My carbon bars are now snapped at the bend on the right hand side. Looks like the rest of the bike is OK, but full of grass and dirt from the soft shoulder.
BTW, the squirrel didnt make it. I tried CPR, rigged my IPOD into a defibrilator, shocked him, tried the heimnlick manouver, whatever medical thing I could try short of surgery. So anyone with the save the Squirrels foundations, no hate mail.