Wildlife on the commute...

[northstar]

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

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.

[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...

[HappyAnika]

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

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.

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.

[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, but I don't think that's it. The tail is all wrong.