Advocacy & Safety - Almost hit an oppossum

Had to swerve across three lanes of traffic and the little bugger still got away!

No, seriously, I was riding early this morning and this little fatty oppossum is waddling across the road as fast as his little legs will carry him, crosses about 5 feet in front of me and then bam!, he smacks the curb with his little nose hard enough that I can hear it! Bounces off dazed and keeps going.

Alright, I'm bored, its a slow day.

I remember being repulsed by their looks the first time I saw a possum. Now I find them comical. I suppose the next step is liking the little buggers. Hate to see them hit by cars, but they may be the least road-concious mammals around.
Isn't it lucky that we riders of silent, invisible vehicles are hyperaware of everything that wanders onto the roadway?

I damn near hit a pigen a few days ago maybe a week ago. His friend was laying dead on the road from a car. Dumb bird flew right through my frame.

I dodge opossum at least once a week. Dumb creatures for sure.

This skunk and I must have the same schedule.. past 2 nights I've had to work until 2am, at the same spot at roughly the same time I've seen him crossing the street just head of me.

I may have to change my 0200 commnute route, that's not a collision I want to risk having!

Opossums are tough critters. When I lived in the country, I used to leave the garbage by the back door until I could take it away in the morning. One evening I'm sitting on the porch and notice that the garbage bag is moving. Thinking it was a cat from the landlord's home across the road, I took my shoe and started beating it...until I realized that a cat wouldn't just take it and wouldn't feel so "solid". I stopped and a 'possum backed out of the bag, hissing and baring its teeth. Two things happened, I got the heck out of its way and I never left the garbage on the back porch again.

More on topic, I startled a blackbird (or crow) last week and it took flight, right at my head. Mere inches separated the two of us from connecting. Usually I'm dodging squirrels...they seem to be confused by a bicycle coming down the street, spin around several times trying to figure out which way to run, then dart right in front of my tire. Haven't hit one yet though.

Usually I'm dodging squirrels...[they] dart right in front of my tire. Haven't hit one yet though.

Members of the wrong-way cyclist club? ;)

-Kurt

Usually I'm dodging squirrels...they seem to be confused by a bicycle coming down the street, spin around several times trying to figure out which way to run, then dart right in front of my tire. .

They usually dart straight in the direction I'm going, and I have to slow down till they realize they can't outrun me and dodge to the side and go shooting up a tree. Then of course, they sit there and 'bark' at anyone that passes that way for the next 10 minutes or so.

I was watching a squirrel in my yard yesterday. The heat index was over 100 degrees. I have to give them credit. He climbed down from the oak tree and dug him/herself a little pit in the yard and cooled off for about fifteen minutes until he noticed me sitting in the swing.

Still, they are "tree rats". I can't believe I used to eat them.

Back when we was aprtment dwellers, I was comming in one night going kinda fast, this big fluffy dog just insisted on getting hit, I got the worst of it, stoopid dog.

I was watching a squirrel in my yard yesterday. The heat index was over 100 degrees. I have to give them credit. He climbed down from the oak tree and dug him/herself a little pit in the yard and cooled off for about fifteen minutes until he noticed me sitting in the swing.

Still, they are "tree rats". I can't believe I used to eat them.
I'd call that a target of opportunity!!

I ran over a squirrel's tail once and another time a bird flew into my spokes and was killed instantly. I have also swallowed numerous bugs and have been stung by bees twice while bicycling.

Something about oppossums that makes me think they are about to keel over and die at any moment. I've never seem one move with any pep. Woodchucks seem to be the most road savvy animal. I've seen many of them forage just a foot off the road side and never seen one hit. Cars don't seem to bother them, but when they see me, they run for cover away from the road. Squirrels, have to be the thrill seekers of the animal world. Or maybe they are trying to ride the bow wave of the bike.

I almost got a raccoon the other night (with the car)... The little critter (it appeared to be a kit) darted right out in front on me and I think the poor little guy's life flashed before his eyes. He ran to the centre of the lane and hunkered down so both my tires missed him. :)

I came across a turkey vulture munching on fresh gopher yesterday. Ya' don't see that too often around here. Mmmmmmmm ... fresh gopher. :p

jw