What wildlife do you see on your rides?

[Evie]

Haha! Steriods are the last thing any squirrel needs.

I think your marmot is what we call a groundhog. (At first I thought you meant those golden monkeys in the rainforest! That might be a marmoset, though...)
I've seen some of those in the pastures around here, But they're much too big and fat to be what I saw. The ones around I've seen tend to lumber around, too. This thing moved more like a beetle; its legs moved, but it's body didn't.

This has got to be the weirdest thing I've ever tried to describe. But you're right--I'm having fun trying to figure it out. I'm trying to think of things to compare it to, but nothing really matches. It was almost like a small possum or large rat, but without a tail, with different legs, and less of a neck.

There weren't any ponds or streams nearby (as I was in a development), but it may have been a muskrat who lost its tail to a snapper. I'm looking at a list of PA mammals right now.

[bcipam]

Well if you ever figure it out please let me know. You have me stumped!

[Evie]

I think "muskrat" was the right guess. Mom says there's a stream running through the pasture two streets away, so it isn't unreasonable. And there are lots of snapping turtles around here, so ducks and geese are always missing limbs--why not a muskrat? That'll do for now.

Thanks for helping.

[mimitabby]

they're usually near water..

[mimitabby]

they also have a tail

[bcipam]

Neither is particularly cute huh? We don't have those here in California. All our animlas are cute!!! And if not, someone would ship them off to the plastic surgeon!

[Nanci]

Here's a little guy I caught yesterday in the middle of my ride. It's a Rough Green Snake, non-venomous, never bites. I released it after photos.

[Lise]

Nanci! He's beautiful! Thanks for the picture. L.

[margo49]

What a colour!
Does it change - looks a bit bright to me unless it lives in a rice paddy or tea plantation.

[Nanci]

That's what color they stay. I don't know if there are any snakes that change colors. It perfectly matched the foliage it was in.

Nanci

[Deanna]

Neither is particularly cute huh? We don't have those here in California. All our animlas are cute!!! And if not, someone would ship them off to the plastic surgeon!

Umm, opossums are not particularly cute!

[Nanci]

The babies are!! I got to hold one last summer that was the size of a baby kitten...

[chickwhorips]

nanci i love the snake! very pretty. i'm supirsed you didnt take him home. you could use another one at home.

[Nanci]

Well, Maizey is still causing problems by refusing to eat, so that's all I need is more trouble. Though if I find another Corn, it's going home with me!

Doesn't he look nice up against those Pearl Izumi gloves? Good thing they wash well- they smell a teeny bit snakey at the moment...

[7rider]

<snip>
What do you guys see?

(Another favorite BikeForums thread, by the way, was "What's the biggest bug you ever ate?" As one who rides breathing through her mouth often, I'm sure that thread will be relevant to me at some point).

I got chased by a "rabid chicken" once when mountainbiking. It was a very territorial ruffed grouse - so said the park ranger after he stopped laughing.

The DH and I just yesterday saw a HUGE dragonfly - some type of darner, I think, with about a 5" wingspan. It must have gotten knocked silly by a car, as it was head down on the sidewalk beside the road not looking terribly happy. It was still there (and still alive) 2.5 hrs later when we came by again on the return trip. DH moved it off the sidewalk onto some branches. I hope it recovered.

On the bike, I've also seen bunnies (near and dear to my heart), pileated woodpeckers, more deer than I care to think about, pheasant, squirrels, several types of turtles, SNAKES!, fox, black vultures, turkey vultures, and the usual assortment of suburban songbirds, but I won't count them (still looking for bluebirds rumoured to frequent one area where we ride, but haven't seen 'em yet).

Regarding the bug in the face: I once took a bug in the back of the throat (ulp! Swallowed it!) and it left a big knot there for HOURS. Yuck. But the worst was the other week when I took a big bug...I think a bee...in the inside of my lower lip. I guess it stung me, as my lower lip and face swelled to softball size before DH dragged me to the doctor's for treatment!