Wildlife on the commute...

[northstar]

So glad to be back to school...even if my giddiness is mostly about commuting! So far, I've seen a deer along the trail every morning I've ridden in! Not to mention hearing geese honking, rabbits darting off the trail, woodchucks diving into their holes and peeking up again...it's been great.

Anyone else see any wildlife on your way to work? Jeez...on the way home, I see mostly cats on leashes. :)

[7rider]

Just suicidal squirrels and surly Canada geese.
And bunnies, which are very cute and above reproach! :D

[margo49]

Screamin' green parakeets in flocks of a dozen.
The sunrise (still-life but wild orange colour)

[northstar]

Just suicidal squirrels and surly Canada geese.
And bunnies, which are very cute and above reproach! :D

I hate to say it, but I'd love it if you'd take out as many squirrels as possible. Little jerks dig up my tulip bulbs and terrorize my garden. Sorry, animal lovers. I used to think they were cute. Now I just think they're vandals. :mad:

[bmccasland]

Northstar - Squirrels in a sauce picant? ;) I have squirrel recipies in a Cajun cookbook. When I lived in the mountains of Arizona, it wasn't the squirrels raiding my garden, but big elk. Nothing quite like turning on the kitchen light in the early morning to have an Elk's head pop up with a red tulip in her mouth (think red rose in a flaminco dancer's). Wished I had a camera. But it was EARLY in the morning, before my coffee.

Let's see - on the levee rides I see bunnies, Mississippi Kites (a type of hawk) and vultures. Along with gulls and terns. Since I'm essentially urban riding, I don't get to see "fun" wildlife.

[RoadRaven]

Northstar... move here - no squirrels at all... in fact, very few animals that bug anyone/their gardens here...

If i'm lucky I might see a bunny, but apart from pets and farm animals, thats the only mammal I have seen...

[Tater]

Anyone else see any wildlife on your way to work? :)

Do rednecks count? :D Lately it has been the occassional red squirrel, a lot of honking Canadian geese overhead and a couple sharp shinned hawks.

[coyote]

Just suicidal squirrels and surly Canada geese.
And bunnies, which are very cute and above reproach! :D

suicidal ground squirrels here...sometimes I lean over the handles bars and scream "rrrunnnnn" at them.

I did startle a hawk a couple of weeks ago and it flew off right in front of me. I've seen jackrabbits, cottontails, lots of lizards, road runners, a king snake, bull frog, western painted turtle (probable an abandoned pet) and some coyotes. We also have some really cute gamble's quail. They have a little crown on thier head that wabbles back and forth.

One of the joys of commuting for me is all the wild life :)

[Kathi]

But we weren't riding our bikes. On the way to Jackson Hole we went to visit a friend in Powell, Wy. 1.5 miles from town a deer jumped in front of my car. We didn't see the deer or feel any jolt from the impact but only saw pieces of my car flying. We stopped and walked back, found the deer on the other side of the road in the ditch. Unfortunately, the deer did not survive. We were ok.

My Honda CRV is now in Powell, Wy. waiting to be repaired. Most of the damage was to the radiator, bumper, grill and driver's side panel.

Thrifty gave us a Ford Explorer. Can you believe that it doesn't carry our bikes and luggage as well as my CRV!

Driving into Yellowstone we saw moose and buffalo. On our bicycle ride yesterday we saw an osprey.

[JmcG]

I see a deer family every morning on my commute by Georgetown on the trail. They're very calm and usually if they move, it's not until you're almost near them. I also see canadian geese, lizards (skinks?), sometimes black snakes in the spring when they're trying to get warm, squirrels, a tortoise once that I stopped for and moved off the trail, blue heron - I think they're my favorite birds - they're so graceful, homeless people sleeping along the trail........

[crazycanuck]

I often hear frogs along the roe highway bike path and often wonder if it's a person as it sounds similar!

On the swan river bike path I often see pelicans (don't watch the pelicans, watch the bike path..reminder to self..:o ), shags, dolphins, swans & fantails.

Along Mounts Bay Road I encounter suicidal wild lorikeets, geese and gallahs...
C

[java]

Yesterday I saw several salmon leaping in the Sammamish Slough as they made their way upriver to spawn at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery.

[light_sabe_r]

Glad someone restarted this thread!

Since it's spring here we're dealing with suicidal noisy miners. >_< BF got hit by two different pairs last friday and he's lucky they didn't end up as spoke decorations!

Native doves are a real hassle too! They're so involved in their mating dance that they don't see you coming. "ARGH!!!!" usually gets them out of the way. :D

But by far the worst - MAGPIES!!!!

It's their nesting season. We've got one in the neighbours garden. There's another one at the goodwill bridge!!

There is no other bird that makes you ride faster. You hear this "shwip-shwip-shwip..........shwip-shwip-shwip" and you realise you're under attack! You pedal as hard as you can with your shoulders up around your ears and your head down watching the ground for it's shadow and pedal furiously to get away. I'm even considering ZIP-TIES and EYE STICKERS ON THE BACK OF MY HELMET to stop them from coming close to my neck. I've been done in twice already and they've only been nesting for 2weeks!!!

:(

[Running Mommy]

I'm not a commuter- work from home, but I do see a lot of desert critters on all my rides. This morning it was a baby taranutula and a baby lizard. And when I say they were babies.. think the size of a cotton ball!
But the other day was wildlife central around here. Saw two snakes- almost ran over one! :eek: , a big quail family, racing lizards (they race me down the street), a road runner with a small snake in his mouth, and a coyote.
I was a bit concerned about the coyote as we usually don't see them mid morning unless they are sick..:(

[crazycanuck]

Um..what's a racing lizard??? :confused:

Also, can you take a pic of a road runner??? Are they dangerous or is that only when Wily Coyote's around?

C

[amy]

Wow! I need to get out of the city!

[margo49]

a road runner with a small snake in his mouth, ..:(

You mean a roadrunner is an actual for real animal not a Disney creation?

[7rider]

You mean a roadrunner is an actual for real animal not a Disney creation?

I think you mean Warner Brothers! ;)
Yup, they're for real.
http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/sep/papr/road.html

[northstar]

I think you mean Warner Brothers! ;)
Yup, they're for real.
http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/sep/papr/road.html

Wow, that is a bizarre looking creature!

Still batting 1000 on seeing deer in the morning. It was a BIG one this morning!

Closest I ever came to having anything swooping at my head was when I almost got taken out by a huge goose. That probably would have brought about a trip to the emergency room!

[Running Mommy]

Ha ha! Yeah, we have some real critters around here..

CC- I call them "racing lizzies" because they race me down the road. It's hysterical. They are fast little suckers, and they can keep up for a good while!
I happen to like lizards. Good thing too because we have a ton in the back yard. They are quite amusing to watch. Some of them stand and do lizzy push ups on my patio. :D Yes- push ups. Very funny.

And roadrunners.. They are quite cool birds. Some of them are pretty big, and I haven't yep stopped making the cartoon "beep beep" when one runs by. :p
We also have ground squirrels and cute little white tailed bunnies.
Oh- and Gila monsters... That is the one lizard I DONT want to see..:eek:
But that is life in the sonoran desert... Lot's o wildlife!

Oh- This really upset me! There is a wash (large dry creek/ riverbed type area used for monsoon rain run offs) near my house. Washe's typically are a rattlesnakes habitat. That is one reason why I stay OUT of the wash, as does running son.
We do take a trail to school that runs parrallel to the wash. I always see kids cutting through the wash on their way to school. I have warned them that there are snakes in the wash, and that they need to be very careful. Our snakes are a perfect desert brown, and with all the scrub brush in the wash, it's hard to spot them- but they are there.
A year ago a little dog died when the owner was walking it through the wash (dumb owner) and it was struck by a snake. It died on the way to the vet.

So anyway, my neighbor told me about another neighbor who was walking through the wash with his kids recently and came across a snake- so he killed it!! :mad: This angered me to no end. I HATE snakes, they scare the bajeepers out of me. I don't know how people can have them as pets, they just aren't my cup of tea.. BUT that is THEIR house, and IMO they deserve to live too! The poor snake was just minding his business hanging out in his home and BOOM some stupid human decided he needed to be dead- all so that his kids could save a few footsteps on their way to and from school.... :mad: Oh it just made me so angry!!!
My neighbor said "yeah, now we call him the snake killer"... She wasn't happy either.

[RoadRaven]

Closest I ever came to having anything swooping at my head was when I almost got taken out by a huge goose.

On my training ride at weekends, and any day I get to commute one way or the other to work, I am bait.

We have magpies who swoop and are getting braver and braver (although they always attack from behind. Usually before summer begins there are some who connect with helmets.

So my partner/ sons go and lie in wait with a rifle for me to bike past in the various "magpie zones" in the hope they will see where the birds land. So far we have sorted one!

[margo49]

Thank you for the picture and info.
It sounds very "adapted".
Do not think I would like to reincarnate as one tho'

[HappyAnika]

I used to think they were cute. Now I just think they're vandals. :mad:


It's nut season here. We have 3 huge walnut trees in our front yard. The squirrels sit up in them and wait for you to walk by so they can pelt you with shells and whole nuts. And if they miss you they'll throw them at your car instead. Ok, I realize they don't really have it in for me, but it's still dangerous to be out there. I should wear my bike helmet when I mow. ;) I still think they are cute, I've gotten over them eating my cucumbers.

Prairie dogs, prairie dogs everywhere! Depending on where I am, I can usually whistle to warn them I'm coming and they run back to their burrows. However on the heavily traveled MUPs they have no fear. Other wise there's not much other than birds and bunnies. I saw a coyote once far away, a raccoon once in the neighborhood, and a deer once at work. I saw a family of wild turkeys once on a non-commute ride, actually had to stop and wait for them all to get across the road, it was really cute.

[northstar]

It's nut season here. We have 3 huge walnut trees in our front yard. The squirrels sit up in them and wait for you to walk by so they can pelt you with shells and whole nuts. And if they miss you they'll throw them at your car instead.

Ohh, yeah. We have oak trees. I feel ya. :rolleyes:

I get so nervous when running over the acorns with my road bike! They shoot like little bullets as they pop off to each side! Ping, ping!

[7rider]

It's nut season here. We have 3 huge walnut trees in our front yard. The squirrels sit up in them and wait for you to walk by so they can pelt you with shells and whole nuts. And if they miss you they'll throw them at your car instead.

We have a hickory tree in our front yard.
Gone are the days of walking out to get the mail barefoot. OUCH!
The tree rats - er, squirrels - are turning the shell casings into fine compost for the front yard. <<crunch, crunch, crunch>>

[cinnamon_toast]

Lots of cute turkey families... A few pheasants here and there. Deer are a common occurrence and they must be accustomed to bikers because they are not yielding on the trail. It's actually kind of freaky to see a huge momma dear just a few feet from where you're biking and wondering what exactly her intentions are, particularly when the babies are in sight as well. I see a lot of turtles. Bunnies by the dozen. And my first beaver last night.

[Geonz]

When it's not acorn season the squirrels will hear me chlirking at them and get out of my way. It's not so easy this time of year. I noticed that I'm a lot more aware - I'll see 'em behind cars and anywhere near the road and anticipate that they might dash *anywhere.* Alas, their kamikaze moves would certainly do as much damage to me as to themselves.

I see lots of rabbits, which are plentiful enough not to be considered cute around here. Hawks & deer are hanging around, too. We had three or four local turkeys that would get themselves on the news periodically and would sometimes be wandering in the streets but I haven't seen them recently. '

See lots of dead possums on the road :(

[light_sabe_r]

The birds are still going crazy... Currawongs, Crows, Indian Minahs and Native Noisy Miners were taking over the Elenor Schonell Bridge today... >_<

We were swooped only once. We think it was a low flying currawong not a magpie though.

[kfergos]

On the swan river bike path I often see pelicans, shags, dolphins, swans & fantails. Crazycanuck: Shags??

Let's see, I've seen: Deer, beaver, squirrels, chipmunks, blue heron, hawks... Not usually much at all, though. The deer was a big excitement, as I live in a fairly decent-sized town.

I see more dead animals, victims of cars: Skunks (bleck), LOTS of squirrels, chipmunks, frogs, mice, songbirds of various types, snakes, cats, possums... I'm sure there's more, but they escape me for now.

[Beane]

The squirrels are driving me nuts! Between almost running over them on my bike several times per commute and making my dog walking experiences harrowing, I say it's time for them to go. I can't believe my neighbor feeds them! (my first clue was when I started finding peanut shells in my yard.. )

[crazycanuck]

Umm i think shags are also known as cormorants? I think..

I saw the cutest thing on my ride yesterday along the river. A group of pelicans sleeping...awwwww..

c

[kfergos]

I saw a weird rodent I don't recognize. It is about the size of a guinea pig, brown, and has a stubby furry black tail. I've seen it twice in the same place on the side of the road. It looks like a beaver, only without the classic beaver tail. Any ideas?

My mom says it may be a nutria (http://www.nutria.com/site.php), but I don't think that's it. The tail is all wrong.

[mimitabby]

kfergos, tell us where you are, that can help in identifying your critter.

[bikinNkc]

Ok...so today was my first commute. That was AWESOME. Except, I almost ran over a squirrel (dumbest creatures on earth) and if it hadn't been for my helmet I might have gotten a concusion from a wayward acorn (dang that was loud) :eek:

But the coolest was watching a red tailed hawk land not fifty feet from me and just watch me ride past. Incredible.

I'm hooked on the commute.

[kfergos]

kfergos, tell us where you are, that can help in identifying your critter.

About 20 miles west of Boston, MA.

[7rider]

I saw a weird rodent I don't recognize. It is about the size of a guinea pig, brown, and has a stubby furry black tail. I've seen it twice in the same place on the side of the road. It looks like a beaver, only without the classic beaver tail. Any ideas?

My mom says it may be a nutria (http://www.nutria.com/site.php), but I don't think that's it. The tail is all wrong.

It wasn't a young fisher cat (http://home.mcn.net/~wtu/fisher.html) was it? They look weasel-like. Adults are kind of big, tho.

The other option, of course, is a gopher (http://martybugs.net/photography/images/200506_gopher.jpg).

[SlowButSteady]

brown, and has a stubby furry black tail. I've seen it twice in the same place on the side of the road. It looks like a beaver, only without the classic beaver tail. Any ideas?

Was it a groundhog? They're often seen from the side of the road. Beaverlike with furry tail. Adults are bigger than guinea pigs, though.

I laughed at a friend once who kept emailing me pictures of something she called a beaver. I asked her if was near water. No. She emailed me a picture. It was a groundhog. But we are still laughing, calling it a "mountain beaver."

[Tuckervill]

I think it's a nutria, too. They can look a little different. They look like beavers, but with furry tails.

Karen

[dellafalls]

Small.... town WestCoast, I've been seeing deer, salmon jumping, geese, and lots of black bears along the river.

[margo49]

I think it's a nutria, too. They can look a little different. They look like beavers, but with furry tails.

Karen

It might be an otter.
But perhaps that is just the British name for nutria.
Trust Tuck-ie; she is good at identifying things by their tails, wet or otherwise!!

[kfergos]

Groundhog! That must be it. The critter looks almost exactly like this (http://www.mynaturephotos.com/images/Groundhog3.JPG).

I'll see if I can get a picture some time.

[mimitabby]

It might be an otter.
But perhaps that is just the British name for nutria.
Trust Tuck-ie; she is good at identifying things by their tails, wet or otherwise!!
no no, Otters are not Nutrias. Nutrias are big rodents. Otters are geniuses in comparison, look
at the brain cases.. Your ground hog is cute. Nutrias are usually found near or in water.

first, an otter:
http://www.nps.gov/archive/romo/images/resources/checklists/mammals/med_river_otter.jpg



here's a nutria

http://www.bio.tu-darmstadt.de/zoology/koch/nutria.jpg

[Jenerator]

I think I need a new commute route...all I see are domestic dogs & cats, a few prarie dogs, racoons & the occaisonal urban outdoorsman.

[MomOnBike]

I was thinking that too, until I saw this on a slightly different route the other day

Shortly thereater, the bear reached up and swatted away that pesky flying witch.

[helena]

All I ever see are moose ..... and they are so very big, gets the adrenaline going every time.

[margo49]

Wow! Where are you?

[lisascenic]

All I ever see are pit bull terriers and rotteweilers being walked by idiots who refuse to put their precious puppies on a leash. I *hate* having to use my bike as a sheild against a lunging dog. Scares me silly.

[northstar]

I agree...sure wish folks would obey the leash laws in the wee hours of the morning, too. Quite scary. :eek:

[Beane]

There was roadkill (pathkill?) on my trip today. yuck! someone finally hit one of those crazy squirrels.