XCSKIBUM

Since our hybrid bikes are suited for back country roads and trails, I have personally had numerous wildlife encounters on my rides.

We're not talking about squirrels in the park , but any true wildlife encounters on trials or country roads. Pictures would be great so post 'em if you have 'em.

This morning I had 4 big Jakes (1 1/2 year old Tom turkeys) cross the road less than 50yds ahead of me.

Last week I saw a grouse sitting in the sand along the edge of the road. As I got within about 10' of her, she flushed and about a dozen grouse chicks flushed from the tall grass around her. As a crested a small rise just beyond where she had been, I saw a whitetail deer slowly meander across the road some distance ahead.

Several years ago, I came across a very large Back Bear on a snowmobile trail along the base of Debarr Mnt. in the Northern Adirondack.

camjr

My headlamp caught the eyes of a really healthy looking bobcat on one of my early pre-dawn rides. It was sitting in the middle of the road and wandered off as I got closer. I also saw an alligator in the bar ditch on the other side of the road when the lake I ride around flooded. It thankfully just laid there as I rode on by and I didn't hang around long enough to get a picture. I'm too old to be out-running large reptiles at this point in my life...

coominya

I rode through the edge of a mouse plague years back, the ones that went under the tire you barely felt but there were all these other ones that were hopping up into the spokes making a tink tink tink noise. Teeth? The ride was smooth but my wheels kept getting slightly defected, back and forth. I never could figure out if it was the wheels sliding around on mouse guts or the accumulated lateral force exerted by dozens of mice, head-butting the spokes? I searched online for scientific papers on the subject but it seems there is little research in this field.

hokiefyd 

I came around a bend at about 15 mph pedaling pretty good a few weeks ago and there was a nice-sized doe standing right on the path, about 20 yards ahead. I slowed (quickly) and tried to get a picture, but she ran off into the woods before I could. I see lots of rabbits on my morning ride, but deer are less common.

ad18

No pictures, but on Saturday saw 2 deer, coyote, fox, tons of squirrels, chipmunks, ruffed grouse, rabbits, turkeys, and 8-10 snapping turtles laying eggs in their nests. Critters everywhere.

XCSKIBUM

There's an abandoned RR bed that can be ridden for about 20 miles near me with only a few intermittent breaks. One afternoon, a few years back, my wife and I were riding a 7 mile stretch when a downpour caught us near the middle of the stretch. We soldiered on since there was no place to get out of the rain. As we crossed a section that had a large swamp on either side, we suddenly found ourselves riding through literally hundreds, perhaps thousands of large frogs jumping back an forth across the trail.

Our first shelter was a small neighborhood bar at the end of the section. We ducked in for a beer and we left puddles of water and fine cinder everywhere we went. The old RR bed was from the steam era and the surface is largely comprised of cinders that spilled over decades of use. There is still a water tower on one section. It was part of the Old Rutland RR running from Watertown, NY to Vermont.

mcours2006

I was riding in one of the Provincial Parks one early morning and suddenly came up behind what looked like a large dog, like a great dane, but it was galloping. Dogs don't gallop, right? Anyway, I realized it was a large stag when I saw the short white tail. I got real close too, like maybe 20 yards behind. The thing was huge, almost the size of a horse, but more graceful in its movement. Then it silently darted off into the thick woods. I thought pretty cool!

Roamer2

Big buck encounter as described above..but right next to me for several yards.

Not sure who was more surprised!

Brooke1687

Last year riding home at dusk in my neighborhood which isn't rural at all and 3 large deer ran in front of me. I actually yelled because it was so unexpected and if startled me. I saw some baby deer on the rail to trail near my house a while back. And a black snake on my last solo ride which I peddled past really fast.

Giturgun

Came across a rather large black snake riding the Kingsport Greenbelt a few weeks ago. Stopped and pitched him in the woods to keep. The idiots from killing it. ST saw several deer and a trash can that had been destroyed by probably a bear. That was on the new river park trail.

Scooty Puff Jr

I rode the Withalacochee Trail a few times, and apparently theres more out there to worry about than just wildlife.

XCSKIBUM

The most dangerous part of a hunting trip or venturing into an area where hunting is permitted is the ride in the car.

Scooty Puff Jr

jase33

I used to ride Shark Alley. Its a trail in the Everglades of South Florida. Gators and big turtles would line the sides of the pavement and when it was cold they gators would lay on the pavement to get warm.

XCSKIBUM

You are statistically more likely to be injured or killed while driving than when hunting.

Scooty Puff Jr

Living in FL, I believe your story, many times I drove alligator alley and I see close to what your pic shows, but is that sign real ? It looks photo shopped ?

jase33

Ha. Yes its real. Just crappy image. There is a tour tram that drives the loop in a clockwise direction while riders and hikers must go counter clockwise. You have to stop and let them pass. Its a safety thing.

Brooke1687

My husband told me I almost ran over a snake on the long bridge on the green belt several years ago. I thankfully didn't even see it.

Scooty Puff Jr

Thats really funny !

jskash

I live in suburban L.A. I often see rabbits and the occasional coyote and racoon.

XCSKIBUM

Yesterday, Wifey & I were riding on a lightly traveled country road. As we passed a brushy area, Wifey, who was riding a ways behind me, alerted me to a deer. A large Whitetail doe was right next to me on the shoulder, perhaps 25' away. It bolted and darted across the road just in front of me.

mrodgers

If I came here to post every time I saw a deer, I'd be constantly on here. But....

Allegheny River Trail (ART), I was riding through the barriers one evening at dusk when I glanced over and saw a goat on the hill side. Where the heck did a goat come from? That's when I heard the snort right beside the trail and a deer ran up the hillside. The "goat" was an albino deer. Not my first or 10th time seeing an albino deer being in Pennsylvania, but still a rare treat.

See black snakes all the time on the trails. Accidentally ran over a copperhead, they're all over Emlenton at the beginning of the ART.
I've yet to encounter a bear. August we're camping along the Pine Creek Trail and all I read about is all the rattlesnakes. 45 years of playing in the Allegheny National Forest and I've never seen a rattlesnake. Looking forward to that.

rubiconazoid

Absolutely. When I'm riding I'm also scouting. Quite a few deer I've seen out on rides were on properties that I have permission to hunt, and I'm sure some of the ones seen on rides ended up on the table.

Maverick 13330

Bizon. Near Big Brutus of Cherokee county, Kansas.

bobwysiwyg

Saw a bald eagle cruising just above the beach riding just north of South Haven last week. I know they are around in the lower peninsula, but I'm more familiar with them in the U.P. Always make an impression with me.