Cattle on the Road
 

I was out riding some dirt roads around Tulsa today and ran across a herd of cattle where the road goes through some open range. When I started riding up to them, they closed ranks and started trotting toward me. I didn't want to get into the middle of herd, so I backed off. Shouting at them didn't get them off of the road, and neither did dismounting and walking. Next I tried retreating around a bend, out of sight, and waiting to see if they would move on. No dice. Eventually, a pickup happened along and the driver gave me a lift through the cattle.

My question is, who here has run into cattle on roads, and how do you deal with them?

They may try to head butt you.

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Now that's What I like about Texas!

Not on the road but I did see a two headed cow:

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Cows are a little strange and often insatiably curious. I've had them come right up to fence lines or even run along the fence with me. Fortunately, I've only had to deal with them on a road once and they were more wary. One did kick out at me as I passed about 10 feet away. Quite an interesting perspective when on a recumbent trike. A close up view of a hoof at face level. :P

Came across cattle on this tour. I just waited until the farmer had herded them on.

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Andrew

When I first came to Australia, for a year, we lived in a cabin in a paddock which was often full of cattle. Cattle came right up on our verandah. On occasion, when I set off for work in the morning, I would have to push one or two aside in order to get to the van.

The cows also liked the gates, so every time I got to a gate, I had to get out, push the cows aside and kind of chase them off, then open the gate, drive through quickly, and shut the gate.

Sometimes I would walk out instead of driving, and yes, the cattle would close ranks and start trotting toward me, but waving my arms and rushing toward them would make them run off a little ways. If I had to walk through them, I just walked through them. They'll move if they have to.

That said ... if there is a bull somewhere in the herd, it's a whole different story. Sometimes they'd let the bulls into the paddock, and when they did, I'd have a look to see where the bulls were, and if they were anywhere nearby, I'd opt not to walk. I started to walk across the paddock once, when I heard one of the bulls growl. It was still some way off, but it was staring at me, and pawing the ground. I turned around and walked slowly back into the shelter of the trees along the edge of the paddock again. Better safe than sorry.


That's our van and the wood pile next to the cabin we lived in ...
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Yes, I run into cattle on the roads. Sometimes. And always in groups. Though not as often anymore as in the past. A lot of farmers find it easier to keep them in their stables the whole year.

Several farms nearby have their own private tunnels under the main road for the cattle to go through.

I just wait till such a herd passes, or I drive a lot slower and try to look out where I ride; grateful for my fenders.


Sheep on the road are a lot worse. Sheep scare much too easily, and end up in ditches, drowning because the water in their fleece will keep them down, when you are not careful.

Sheep on a ride ...

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Kangaroos and wombats and possums present a much greater hazard in Australia... in my experience.

Sheep and cattle are reasonably predictable, but the native wildlife less so, and horses running wild alongside the road are worse.

On bulls, I've seen close-up two bulls battle it out in an hour-long head-butt on the farm where I worked. There is a huge amount of power in those animals and you don't argue with them. The caution is now even greater when a farmer in a neighbouring town last year was charged by a bull, then tossed down the paddock with head-butts; the man died in the paddock. The bull had been hand-raised, too, and considered to be almost a pet.

Kangaroos are dangerous because the big greys (some stand over six foot tall), can attack with the claws on their hind feet; the claws are designed to rip open their victims.

It's also not unusual for us to ride past some of the most lethal creatures on earth -- yellow-bellied tiger snakes and brown snakes. A couple of months ago, one charged Machka's bike after I, riding ahead, had startled it. Then a nice looking brown, about four foot long, made a dash up a bank along a rail-trail a couple of weeks ago.

It's fun living in the Australian bush.

I always treat cows with caution. If possible dismount and never stand square on, looking them in the eye. This is what wolves do and cows don't like it.

What does a snake do when it catches up with is circular looking pal on the edge of your rim?

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It's all about timing.

That is NOT a two-headed cow. It's a Pushmepullmoo. Get it? PullMOO. Whacka Whacka Whacka. I'll be here all week, ladies and germs. Make sure to try the veal.

Hehe. Thanks a lot, Indy. Now I have to try to get my hands on an original version of Dr. Dolittle. :P

You could just ask them to moooove out of the way...

I walked up on some land that was for sale once and got "charged" by a herd of cows. Scared me silly. I'm convinced they saw a human and thought it was feeding time. May have been the same with you.

This is true. Hand feeding is not unusual, even when the paddocks are lush green. The hay provides roughage. Hand feeding does, of course, mean the cattle recognise the accoutrements associated with it such as the sound of a tractor on the other side of a hill, and a person who is rolling out the bale.

gorshkov, Really any domestic or wild critter(s) encountered when riding a bicycle should initially cause caution. Nothing like rounding a corner at speed on a motorcycle and finding a herd of cattle or deer.

Brad

Once, many years ago, on US 212 in South Dakota, I saw hundreds of snakes crossing the road. I stopped and waited.

elephants, cobras......and these cute fellers.....:love:

I was chased by a herd of four or five cows on a road in Switzerland. I tried outrunning them, but when I realized I couldn't, I ditched my bicycle and quickly rolled under the closest electric fence. They circled my bike, licked the saddle and handlebars for about five minutes, lost interest, and eventually wandered away.

Im certain it was because of your Brooks saddle, they were just wanting to say hello to Uncle Fritzy again.

Mostly they run away, I have seen a cow jump a 4 foot high fence to get away from cyclists.
Sometimes they just stop and stare.:)

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Barbecue.