Dead squirrels, other animals ?
09-24-10 | 08:01 PM
#26
Born Again Pagan
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 2
From: Southwestern Ontario
Bikes: Schwinn hybrid, Raleigh MTB
Last Fall I was on my way to work on an awesome crisp morning. I saw a dead squirrel in the road and swerved to the right to miss it. At the same time a car went around me on the left. The car ran over the squirrel and shot squirrel juice all over my leg. It took me 20 minutes in the restroom to scrub the squirrel juice off.
Jerry H
Jerry H
Around here I worry more about the live ones that try to dart this way or that to avoid my wheels (and sometimes end up underneath them).
I live in Columbia County, NY, the road kill capital of of the world. On any given morning, I can ride by 10 dead squirrels, a dead fox, two dead skunks, 3 dead cats, two dead deer, 5 dead chipmunks, a plethora of dead birds, and a few possums too. It's just wicked, the number of dead animals on the side of Route 9.
09-24-10 | 08:10 PM
#27
Intrepid Bicycle Commuter
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 819
Likes: 95
From: Upstate New York
Bikes: 1976 Motobecane Grand Jubile, Austro Daimler 'Ultima', 2012 Salsa Vaya, 2009 Trek 4300, Fyxation Eastside, State Matte Black 6, '97 Trek 930 SHX, '93 Specialized Rockhopper, 1990 Trek 950
There's a ton of wildlife. It's a very rural area of mostly scrubland and farmland with a twisty highway running right through it. The highway is very popular with big rigs that run at very high speeds. The big rigs seem to be animal magnets. I've lived in a lot of places, but have never seen a place with half this amount of roadkill.
09-24-10 | 08:23 PM
#28
invisible friend
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 955
Likes: 0
From: Decatur, Alabama
Bikes: Gary Fisher Tassajara hardtail mtb, '01 Rans Wave, '98 Raleigh R700, Mid-80's Takara Professional, '91 Bianchi Alfana
09-24-10 | 08:29 PM
#29
Ridin' South Cackalacky
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,918
Likes: 2
Seriously, just leave em. You cant help em now, and if they are on the side of the road they present little hazard to motorists.
Man, if I was compelled to stopped and fiddle with every decomposing critter I rode past, I would never get home.
Plug your nose and pedal faster, that's my advice.
Man, if I was compelled to stopped and fiddle with every decomposing critter I rode past, I would never get home.
Plug your nose and pedal faster, that's my advice.
Last edited by dahut; 09-25-10 at 06:28 AM.
09-25-10 | 04:35 AM
#30
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,656
Likes: 145
From: Long Island, NY
09-25-10 | 04:53 AM
#31
Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: SE Louisiana
Bikes: Trek Lime Light
It ain't the dead ones I worry about...neighbor was out for his daily morning ride the other day, and a "live" rabbit ran out in front of him right under his front wheel. Well, he ended up on the ground with some pretty good road rash and an injury to his neck...helmet pretty scarred up...guess the lesson is, watch out for them little animals before they are road kill.
09-25-10 | 05:12 AM
#32
On a Mission from God
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,009
Likes: 5
From: Thibodaux, LA
Bikes: '10 Surly LHT, Rat-rod Klunker, '82 Peugeot PH12 Centennial
I wasn't paying attention one day, looked behind me to scope an oncoming truck, and when I turned around, there was a 4-foot dead alligator laying all the way across the shoulder... couldn't go around, didn't go over, went through it. Still scared the mess out of me.
09-25-10 | 05:34 AM
#33
commuter and barbarian
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,494
Likes: 3
From: Potomac, MT, USA
09-25-10 | 06:29 AM
#34
Ridin' South Cackalacky
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,918
Likes: 2
It ain't the dead ones I worry about...neighbor was out for his daily morning ride the other day, and a "live" rabbit ran out in front of him right under his front wheel. Well, he ended up on the ground with some pretty good road rash and an injury to his neck...helmet pretty scarred up...guess the lesson is, watch out for them little animals before they are road kill.
The larger ones are another matter.
09-25-10 | 02:20 PM
#35
Long Live Long Rides
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 718
Likes: 1
From: KCMO
Bikes: 1988 Specialized Rockhopper Comp, converted for touring/commuting. 1984 Raleigh Team USA road bike.
I once worked with a trapper. He used to tell us some really cool stories about getting lost in the woods for days while trapping. He told us there are three stages of a dead animal (roadkill).
1) fresh roadklll. Good to eat.
2) rigor mortis sets in. No good to eat.
3) softens up again. Good to eat.
We almost believed him...
Jerry H
1) fresh roadklll. Good to eat.
2) rigor mortis sets in. No good to eat.
3) softens up again. Good to eat.
We almost believed him...
Jerry H
09-25-10 | 02:37 PM
#36
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,299
Likes: 16
So what is one supposed to do about dead animals on the side of the road?
09-25-10 | 03:04 PM
#37
I am a caffine girl
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,815
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area
Bikes: 2012 Stumpjumper FSR Comp...2010 Scott CR1 CF...2007 Novara FS Float2.0...2009 Specialized Hardrock Disc...2009 Schwinn Le Tour GSr
Did I recommend the op to leave the bag behind??? No, that will be his/her decision. I guess this was just an assumption in your part which I personally think is just as stupid. Argh, there's one in every crowd, sigh.
09-25-10 | 05:07 PM
#39
I am a caffine girl
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,815
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area
Bikes: 2012 Stumpjumper FSR Comp...2010 Scott CR1 CF...2007 Novara FS Float2.0...2009 Specialized Hardrock Disc...2009 Schwinn Le Tour GSr
If it make you any happier, the bag was meant for transporting the animal only, ok? OP can throw away the bag elsewhere later.
Last edited by colleen c; 09-25-10 at 05:12 PM.
09-25-10 | 05:11 PM
#40
Sumerian Street Rider
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 660
Likes: 0
From: Suburban Chicago
Bikes: Dahon Mu P8, Fuji Absolute 1.0
I'd find a stick and just flick it out of the way or out of sight. This one is probably too old but the recently deceased can have fleas and other vermin you would rather not have a close encounter with. A plastic bag is fine as long as you don't litter if you have that much respect for our fellow creatures.
Ken
09-25-10 | 05:13 PM
#41
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,222
Likes: 30
From: South Bend IN
Bikes: 1976 FRESCHI, 2004 Crumpton.
So what is one supposed to do about dead animals on the side of the road? I usually try to avoid them and think to myself, "Someday that will be me..."
There's been a squirrel on my route for almost two weeks. On one hand, it has been really interesting, observing the body decompose slowly into what it is today. But on the other hand, the corpse is rather gruesome to look at.
So am I supposed to pick it (the squirrel) up with a baggy and throw it out? Or is there some sort of community service one is to call for cleaning up roadkill? I know that in the south and near trailer parks roadkill doesn't linger for too long, but I live in a northern suburb (just kidding).
But yeah, thanks for any advice on roadkill management.
There's been a squirrel on my route for almost two weeks. On one hand, it has been really interesting, observing the body decompose slowly into what it is today. But on the other hand, the corpse is rather gruesome to look at.
So am I supposed to pick it (the squirrel) up with a baggy and throw it out? Or is there some sort of community service one is to call for cleaning up roadkill? I know that in the south and near trailer parks roadkill doesn't linger for too long, but I live in a northern suburb (just kidding).
But yeah, thanks for any advice on roadkill management.
09-25-10 | 06:10 PM
#42
Thread Starter
Run, Bike, Eat.
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: North America
Bikes: Giant Defy 3, other cheap mountain bikes, my dad has a Raleigh something commuter I sometimes use
And, as for being inane, isn't that sort of the point of forums? It's just cycling. Without us sharing new road kill recipes, things would get kind of boring.
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