That's true-- there are plenty of deer on the trail. I usually use my bell to move them along-- it usually works for me.

I've also encountered snakes on the ground on the trail-- I had to dodge around a pretty long black snake making its way across the trail.

The most annoying are the grey squirrels that act like they're going to dart out in front of you and then suddenly spin around and go back into the woods and fly up a tree. They have a major "fake out" value.

If you look in the dead trees just below River Road, but before Massachusetts Avenue, you'll find a large number of large Woodpeckers hammering away.