I've spent much of my life living in the country and have had several bicycle-related incidents with various critters. My most current incident occurred while Fall has come upon us. While preparing to set out on a ride, I gathered some cycling gear and accessories to take with me until I needed them. When I went out to my bicycle, I noticed that I had forgotten to close the zipper on my rack trunk that I carry my gear in from the last ride I took. When I opened the main compartment, I discovered that some pesky squirrel decided to use it to store its vast cache of acorns until it returned to survive on them through the winter! I removed my rack trunk, dumped out the acorns in a nearby place, fastened the rack trunk on my bicycle, put my gear inside it, and went on my ride.

Have any of you had bicycle-related incidents with critters?

I never have, but I've gotten to watch riding buddies have some encounters of the critter kind.

Better to have a squirrel in your trunk bag than in your fork... that's all I have to say.

This time of year I'm often out biking around dusk. Deer are a scary sight when you're flying down a hill at 30 mph.

A few weeks ago I had a deer pop out of some brush on me and a friend on a trail. We were not going quite 30mph, but it was closer than I liked. Last year, a large buck sprung up from a ditch and crossed the road right in front of me and scared the crap out of me. Does anyone know of anyone colliding with a deer on a bike?

While riding on the carriage paths of Mount Desert Island in Maine, I once had to come to an abrupt stop on the trail for a parade of turtles making their way toward a lake. Because I hardly ever saw this in my travels, I had no interest in running them down.

This time of year tarantulas are common on the roads, as they roam around looking to mate. One friend in a predawn fast training ride hit a deer. Knocked him cold and destroyed his bike. Another came around a turn in a fast downhill, with his line set, he saw a large rattlesnake across the road. He hit it like a speed bump, thinking the whole time that it would get tangled in his spokes and bite him in the a**. Another time a rider in our group asked if any of us had ever hit the suicidal groundsquirrels that seem to be everywhere. Before her question could be answered, she hit one.

Seen on rides from my own front door: badger, lots of deer, coyotes, bobcats, bald and golden eagles, otters, harbor seals and sea lions all are memorable. I play a game with myself: try to get home with one bird species per mile ridden.

Well I hate to say it but, I hit a rabbit with my bike... how that actualy happened I don't know, they usaly run away, but it was around the ben on the bike path, anyway, Thats my think that happened, that and my bike was used to make a nest for some mice in winter, they used fabric from the bags lol

Sad to say, most of the wildlife I see while cycling is "sleeping" on the road pavement and by the side of the road. Lots and lots of raccoons lately.

In addition to the usually menagerie of critters, this morning I saw a baby red fox. Smaller than a housecat, it was off to my right as I circled part of the golf course, near where we know a mama fox has a den.

I had a bird build a nest in my helmet in the garage. Could not bear to dump it and the eggs out so we watched the lil buggers hatch and grow up.

Admittedly it was an old spare helmet but still funny.

I stayed at Jekyl Island, GA once. I figured I would get in some exercise by a predawn ride. So out I go. I had one of those really bright HID headlights. I am glad I did. You don't see them during the day. But that place is swarming with deer. I saw dozens in my ride around the island. And did you know something? They don't have reflectors so you don't see them until they are close. And they stop and stare at you like deer in the headlights!

seems like a perfect opportunity for a bunny hop... I've had to slow down for a group of deer crossing the path, no collisions yet.

Why do the squirrels always run across the trail when they're already off to the side? Just stay where you are you little *******s and I wont hit you!