We have our share of deer and turkeys around here. In my mind's eye, I like to think that if I ever hit a running deer, I'd unclip, jump on his back and ride that sucker down. In my mind's eye.

I've noticed that both livestock and wildlife tend to get freaked out by bicycles. I'm not sure why, except that we're relatively rare, and unlike passengers in a car, they can smell us. I'll ride by a field full of Canada geese or gulls--just minding my own business--and they'll all take off when I approach, making all kinds of racket. Last spring I sent a whole field full of cows back to the barnyard when I rode past. They didn't like the looks of me, apparently. On my regular ride, there's an alpaca ranch. They don't get scared--they just look at me as if so say: "What a weird looking creature." Of course, I'm thinking the same thing about them.