Another maybe not so funny animal encounter

[Brandi]

My husband a couple days ago was riding in the hills here by our house. He said a animal jumped out of the bushes not far from him
he thought it was a small coyote until it turned to run back into the bushes.He caught it's profile. It was a bob cat! He was so excited!!!! We don't see the big cats very often around here. Which can kinda be scary, at least when it comes to mountain lions hiding in the bushes! florida panther's if you are where Nanci lives.

[Nanci]

That's exciting! It is _very_ rare to see a wild cat. We have bobcats here, too, but you only see them dead on the road. Some people claim to have seen a Florida Panther up in the woods here, but it would be way out of its normal range. There certainly is enough undeveloped space for panthers and bears to move north if they had to, because of territorial pressure, though. (I _do_ worry about the wild pigs when I am trail running- those guys are big and mean! And bears if I am down in the Ocala Forest.) They are talking about relocating some of the panthers to states further north to re-establish the original territory. I don't think Florida Panthers go for people like the cougars out west do. A bunch of people on the ultrarunners list knew that lady that got eaten- what a way to go. Still, I would never support slaughter of cougars because of it.

Nanci

[Running Mommy]

I live in a community that's in the foothills of a mtn range out here called the Sierra Estrellas. While we have about 2500-3000 rooftops out here there are still alot of open spaces and hiking trails. Since we've had no rain in 130+ days the wildlife is starting to come out looking for water. We have a resident mtn lion who everyone calls "elvis" because he *leaves the building* so to speak as quickly as he comes. Well there have been alot of Elvis sightings lately, as well as Javelina- something of a cross between a pig and a rodant- coyotes and apparently a bob cat. One evening my son and I were videotaping down by our lake and a coyote came out from behind a palm tree. It kind of freaked us out, but was cool at the same time He was in a very populated area. My guess is either he was looking for a duck for dinner or wanted water.
I think my worst wildlife encounter was on my roadbike last fall. I was coming down the road near the school and a lady in a car going to opposite direction stopped me and warned that there was a HUGE rattlesnake in the street ahead. Well man was she right! The things was at least 4 feet long! It took up the entire center turn lane! The real scary part was in was slithering into the school yard. I stopped and warned them in the office, but they didn't seem surprised. The school apparently has many wildlife encounters. There is a rugged mountain across from the school and a desert wash behind it. So basically wildlife habitat all around. In fact when we first moved here the "class pet" in my sons class was a tarantula that they caught outside the classroom!
Snakes.... Just another reason why I don't mtn bike here in the spring or fall!

[bcipam]

I'm fortunate. I live and ride in a area (Orange County, CA) where it's common to see Coyote and Bobcats and occasionally lions. On one trail (Chino Hills - Telegraph Canyon) the bobcats and coyotes are so common, they will lop along beside your bike. I never take these encounters lightly. I love seeing both animals. Biggest thrill: Riding in Aliso Woods/Wood Canyon along Coyote Creek trail and seeing a bobcat and Lion facing off. One on the left and the one on the right. My group of 5 riders stopped and for a brief moment we all faced off each other. Finally the cats turned and went in their own direction. I have a feeling we saved the bobcat's life.

Now I really want to see a ringtail cat. Apparently they are out there but sightings are rare. I'm fortunate to have seen alot of big raptors: red tail hawks, red shoulder hawks, Cooper's hawks, kestrels, peregrines, turkey vultures, etc. Love seeing the big raptors!

And rattlesnakes, they are like ants. They are everywhere. I just give them their space and they leave me alone. And I love fall when the Tarantula Hawks (a big black and orange wasp) starts hunting the spiders. Nothing cooler than seeing a hawk dragging a tarantula across the trail!!!!

[Aint Doody]

YIKES!!!!

[Nanci]

I'd have to rescue the tarantula, since I like spiders (in their place) and hate wasps.

Lots of rattlesnakes here, too. I've run over a (non-rattle) snake twice on an MTB- they just come out so fast, if it's a narrow trail with high grass on each side. Both times I've thrown down my bike and stopped to see if the snake was ok- they both appeared to be- nothing broken, anyway. I feel badly when that happens. I could bunny hop over them if I saw them in time, but they just dart across at the last second...

Nanci

[Trekhawk]

Its funny this thread should pop up now because on the weekend we headed down from the hills to the flats and on the way saw a Coyote crossing the road he/she then just stopped by the side of the road and checked us out. Before this we had never seen a Coyote except at Yellowstone National Park so the kids were pretty excited.

I have never seen a Cougar but in some of the places I mountain bike they have warning signs about them. When I cycle at these spots I try hard to keep up with my riding partner Im such a chicken.

[Running Mommy]

That reminds me Trekhawk... Last spring I took my son mtn biking on a trail we had never been on before. He's mr. expert mtn biker like his dad, and I'm weenie *stop and walk the bike over every wash mom*, so I told him not to go to far ahead of me. I mean we were in the middle of the desert w/ not another soul to be seen... So of course he does end up taking off on me- he's 8... So I finally catch up to him and he says "mom I just saw a Coyote" well I kind of freaked out because at the time I'd never had a coyote encounter before, so off I went on a motherly barrage of "that's why I told you not to take off on me! Do you want to be eaten?!".. So I scared the kid half to death and he refused to ride that trail for a very long time! Finally Tony was able to get him back out there. But boy did I hear it from Tony!
"Did you have to scare the kid half to death?! Jeez!!"...
But to make matters worse, he also had a rattlesnake run in on the same trail last year. He dropped the bike and ran screaming- ala MOM!!
I wasn't there- thank goodness!!! But I was told that this snake just did not want to let them pass and he was one ticked off snake. My husband is used to them as well, but he said this one was not happy!
Like I said... no mtn biking for me during what I call "snake season"..
Oh and as for Tarantula Hawks... I had one fly into the vent of my helmet once! I almost crashed trying to stop and throw off the helmet!! It was quite a sight I'm sure! Luckily no one else was around. We have some nasty bugs out here in AZ..

[Lise]

ummm....sometimes I see a bunny rabbit....and there's a new Basset Hound in the neighborhood....

Livin' in Tame Land, Chicago.

Cool to hear these stories. L.

[Trekhawk]

That reminds me Trekhawk... Last spring I took my son mtn biking on a trail we had never been on before. He's mr. expert mtn biker like his dad, and I'm weenie *stop and walk the bike over every wash mom*, so I told him not to go to far ahead of me. I mean we were in the middle of the desert w/ not another soul to be seen... So of course he does end up taking off on me- he's 8... So I finally catch up to him and he says "mom I just saw a Coyote" well I kind of freaked out because at the time I'd never had a coyote encounter before, so off I went on a motherly barrage of "that's why I told you not to take off on me! Do you want to be eaten?!".. So I scared the kid half to death and he refused to ride that trail for a very long time! Finally Tony was able to get him back out there. But boy did I hear it from Tony!
"Did you have to scare the kid half to death?! Jeez!!"...

LOL that sounds like me. I kept telling my kids when we were hiking stay close in case of Cougars, Bears etc and my husband said I dont know about them but you have scared me half to death.

Love the spider story too. Im trying to visualize that mmm wont share that one with DH he hates spiders.

[CyclaSutra]

I was trail running in Yellowstone National Park a couple years ago and was attacked by a blue grouse. It apparently was protecting a nest right on the trail. Now, a bird might not sound like such a scary thing, but I immediately flashed back to being five years old and flogged by large male roosters.

The grouse hopped into the trail behind me and started running at my legs. Of course, I started to run, too. I heard its wings beat closer and closer so I turned and then it was flying AT MY HEAD just about 10 feet away. Screaming, running, much commotion, flying down the trail being chased by a pi$$ed-off chicken. If anyone had been within a mile, they would have been sure a griz was gnawing on my femur.

I ran down three switchbacks before it took off and headed back to the nest, but I was frantically searching for a big stick to bat it out of the sky with. Duh, I had a HUMUNGO can of pepper spray on my waist. But your brain during these occasions does not think rationally.

I know, lucky, right, that I see eagles and coyotes and swans and bison and moose on my commute. But when the moose begins running parallel to your bicycle, then charges in front of you, not so cool.

[DrBee]

Awesome sighting!

I had an encounter with a rogue hedgehog last summer. It ran into my bike... I heard a crunch, let out a major girly scream, feet came off the pedals. It ran off behind a house - never to be seen again (yet, anyway). I rode another mile repeating "what the %&@? was that???" and then made my way home. I got a good enough look at it - it really was a hedgehog.

[latelatebloomer]

"Both times I've thrown down my bike and stopped to see if the snake was ok"

I just love a woman who brakes for snakes! Many times I've used sticks like giant chopsticks to push large (and very pissed) snapping turtles off the road so they didn't get smushed.

Cycling is such a wonderful way to see stuff. I pass a lovely old wreck of a farm, with ruins of a stone wall. There's a corner still standing - over 5 feet tall, like an ancient pedestal. And on top of it on morning - one very proud groundhog.

[bikerchick68]

OMG... and this post is why I road bike!

I am in awe that anyone stops to check on the snake... and that you stopped to prevent the cat fight...

All I have to deal with is bee stings, nasty drivers and the occasional Starbucks that is late to open!

I am SUCH a city girl now...

[Nanci]

The safe way to pick up a snapping turtle is by the tail, close to the base of the shell, and hold out as far as possible from your body if it's a big one, 'cause it is not going to appreciate the rescue! This is the only turtle with a strong enough tail to support its weight. Other turtles, if they feel like biting, hold at both sides of the shell back by the tail and watch out for clawing back feet.

Rattlesnake, don't mess with. Non-venomous snake, scootch out of harm's way with a big stick.

(Besides being a pigeon lover, I also have my beloved Cornsnake, Maizey, my Century Ride Box Turtle, Fagalo, my Tortoise, The Chicken, and my baby Glass Lizard, Russell Jr. Russell Sr. died of unknown causes about a month ago :-(

There was just talk on the ultrarunning list today about a grouse attack. Cyclosutra, your experience sounds very typical. But they just want you away from the nest/babies- _please_ don't pepper spray a bird! I think that might kill it, and then the babies don't have such a good chance.

Nanci