Wildlife on Rides
#2
Waterfowl (ducks, geese, herons, egrets, gulls, pelicans), other avians (raptors, buzzards, jays, crows, sparrows, finches), squirrels, chipmunks, coyotes (in Coyote Creek, no less!).
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 636
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From: Long Island, NY
Osprey's in the south shore (Long Island) bay's. A hawk that I scared off the top of a fence post in Santa Fe, NM, on one mt. bike ride. He/She rode right along side me until it gained speed to climb, was like 5ft. away. An elk on a mt. bike trail in the high country south of Taos, NM, came out of the woods about 50ft in front of me, hung a turn on the trail, I was maybe 30 ft back, then a quick left and back into the woods. Scared to death, so was I. A mt. goat at the top of Tesuque Peak, also in Santa Fe. The rear end of a black bear up near Taos, while mt. biking, I was solo'ing and turned around at that point. More then a few rattlesnakes out wes, bunny hopped one at one point. A lot of coyotes as well.
Last edited by Lightingguy; 06-19-13 at 06:14 PM.
#5
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 475
Likes: 4
From: Garden State exit 135
Saw 4 rather large snapping turtles basking in he sun on a log in the canal.Shortly after, my daughter riding ahead me screamed.She thought a stick was on the trail.At the last second she realized it was a snake.Bump Bump she rides over it.I come along and Bump Bump ride over it.First time I felt sorry for a snake.
#6
Senior Member


Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,528
Likes: 152
From: midwest
Bikes: 2018 Roubaix Expert Di2, 2016 Diverge Expert X1
Today osprey (with a branch for its nest), great blue herons, red-winged blackbirds, an eastern meadowlark, and an eastern kingbird.
I have seen many red-tailed hawks, great egrets, cattle egrets, northern harriers, deer, coyote, ducks of all sorts, grebes, turtles, frogs, geese, black crowned night herons and green herons and a lot I probably don't remember
There is a great blue heron rookery on my way home on the trails, and I travel through a lot of the site where I work that has restored prairie.
I have seen many red-tailed hawks, great egrets, cattle egrets, northern harriers, deer, coyote, ducks of all sorts, grebes, turtles, frogs, geese, black crowned night herons and green herons and a lot I probably don't remember

There is a great blue heron rookery on my way home on the trails, and I travel through a lot of the site where I work that has restored prairie.
#7
just keep riding
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 13,560
Likes: 44
From: Milledgeville, Georgia
Bikes: 2018 Black Mountain Cycles MCD,2017 Advocate Cycles Seldom Seen Drop Bar, 2017 Niner Jet 9 Alloy, 2015 Zukas custom road, 2003 KHS Milano Tandem, 1986 Nishiki Cadence rigid MTB, 1980ish Fuji S-12S
In the past few weeks I've seen turtles, snakes, a fox, hawks, turkeys, heron, squirrels, buzzards, deer, rabbits, opossum and armadillo. The last two were dead in the road.
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,082
Likes: 24
From: Southern CaliFORNIA.
Bikes: KHS Alite 500, Trek 7.2 FX , Masi Partenza, Masi Fixed Special, Masi Cran Criterium
Coyote cruizin down a broad suburban street on my morning commute yesterday.
https://goo.gl/maps/in0Lp
https://goo.gl/maps/in0Lp
Last edited by CommuteCommando; 06-19-13 at 07:43 PM.
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Bikes: Cannondale T600, 2013 Cannondale Synapse 6
Along Old Mine Rd. in western New Jersey, daughter and I came to a screeching halt as a large black bear lumbered across the road. Don't think it even looked at us as it headed down toward the Delaware River.
#10
Rides Majestic
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 7
From: Westfield, MA
Bikes: 1983 Univega Gran Turismo, 1970 Schwinn Super Sport, 2001 Univega Modo Vincere, Self-Built Nashbar Touring, 1974 Peugeot U08, 1974 Atala Grand Prix, 1986 Ross Mt. Hood, 80's Maruishi MT-18
On the rail trail I ride you see the usual wetland animals: turtles, frogs, snakes, ducks, heron, beaver(s), etc. On one ride a hawk flew close over my head and I was able to speed up and ride with it flying just ahead of me under the tree canopy. I stayed with it for a few minutes until it veered off.
#11
rebmeM roineS

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,230
Likes: 363
From: Metro Indy, IN
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Rescued a turtle in the middle of a rural road on a tandem ride last weekend. Took it back to the side of road, pointed away from the killing traffic.
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Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 23
From: Okanagan, BC
Bikes: Cannondale Caad 8; Jamis Aurora Elite, Kona Disc road bike, Rocky Mntn Equipe, Apollo Imperial, KHS Aero Comp SS
We saw an eagle perched on a pole on Saturday, shortly after the Turtle Crossing sign. Neither are too common around here.
#13
Time for a change.

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,913
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From: 6 miles inland from the coast of Sussex, in the South East of England
Bikes: Dale MT2000. Bianchi FS920 Kona Explosif. Giant TCR C. Boreas Ignis. Pinarello Fp Uno.
Luckily we don't have any of your "Dangerous" animals over here but Riding on the road I rarely see animals of any description. Birds are a different matter. Got worried a few weeks ago on a hard ride at the top of a hill and saw my first Buzzard in the locality and they are a rare bird over here. Just as I was feeling the hill several started circling above me looking like Vultures waiting to pounce.
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How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
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How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
#14
www.ocrebels.com
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 8
From: Los Angeles area
Bikes: Several bikes, Road, Mountain, Commute, etc.
Humans are the most dangerous animals we have around here. How much "wildlife" they generate varies with the human. On Glendora Mountain Road I've seen tarantulas, lizards, coyotes, various snakes, chipmunks, bobcats, deer and the occasional bear. Rick / OCRR
#15
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 706
Likes: 10
From: The Northwoods, Wisconsin
Bikes: Holland Exogrid & Holland HC
On today's ride, a small buck in velvet, geese, assorted ducks, a young coyote, ubiquitous turkeys, numerous squirrels, a white tailed kite hovering, red shouldered hawk, some orioles, white egret, a blue heron fishing in the river, a buzzard circling above my route, one small rattlesnake, and a night heron.
#16
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Punta Gorda, FL
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix road bike, Stumpjumper Comp hardtail, Trance X2 FS mountainbike
Waiting for me on my return
Parked my car in a small park on the Sweetwater River just east of San Diego on the Campo Highway. Rode further east into the hills for three hours. Upon returning to the car I kept hearing strange noises under the car while I changed out of my riding gear.

Eventually this guy appeared on the right side of the car - nothing nearby so I don't know where he came from.
Good thing this guy:

Did not find the rooster - he was blocking the trail I was trying to ride at Daly Ranch in Escondido, California
Eventually this guy appeared on the right side of the car - nothing nearby so I don't know where he came from.
Good thing this guy:
Did not find the rooster - he was blocking the trail I was trying to ride at Daly Ranch in Escondido, California
Last edited by TacomaSailor; 06-19-13 at 11:23 PM.
#17
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,712
Likes: 1
Not counting a wide variety of birds, some all the way from Antarctica, that migrate through: Weird humans, Moose, Fox, Coyote, Marmot, Squirrels, Bald Eagles, Ravens, Hawks of various kinds, an occasional owl, DOGS, an occasional lynx, tourists.
#18
Banned.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 8,651
Likes: 3
From: Uncertain
My favourite wildlife sighting happened while riding beside the Shannon estuary in Ireland, very early in the morning. An otter was dragging a conger eel out onto the bank not twenty yards away. Very impressive, a conger eel is pretty formidable prey.
#19
Trek 500 Kid

Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,563
Likes: 399
From: Spokane WA
Bikes: '83 Trek 970 road --- '86 Trek 500 road
Snakes (no rattlers yet up here), eagles, deer and many years ago about a yearling moose being escorted out of town by a cop. He wasn't small I can tell you that.
#20
Senior Member

Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,471
Likes: 1
From: Gig Harbor, WA
Bikes: Surly Long Haul Trucker, Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, Dahon Mu P 24 , Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Rodriguez Tandem, Wheeler MTB
During a tour to Northern Canada, fox, porcupine , many many black bear, 2 wolves , a few deer , mountain goats, and caribou. Sadly NO grizzly bears were spotted.
#23
you should just ask people where they live and what kinds of wild life are there.
anyone who spends hundreds of hours a years riding their bikes, especially on rural roads, will eventually see all the fauna in the area.
I live in vt. I have seen moose, coyotes, bunnies, foxes, squirles, woodchucks, bears, deer......
anyone who spends hundreds of hours a years riding their bikes, especially on rural roads, will eventually see all the fauna in the area.
I live in vt. I have seen moose, coyotes, bunnies, foxes, squirles, woodchucks, bears, deer......
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2010 Kestrel RT900SL, 800k carbon, chorus/record, speedplay, zonda
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2010 Kestrel RT900SL, 800k carbon, chorus/record, speedplay, zonda
2000 litespeed Unicoi Ti, XTR,XT, Campy crank, time atac, carbon forks
#25
Seat Sniffer


Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,900
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From: SoCal
Bikes: Serotta Legend Ti; 2006 Schwinn Fastback Pro and 1996 Colnago Decor Super C96; 2003 Univega Alpina 700; 2000 Schwinn Super Sport
Stuff like this. Really.
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