Wildlife on the commute...

[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.

[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)

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

It wasn't a young fisher cat was it? They look weasel-like. Adults are kind of big, tho.

The other option, of course, is a gopher.

[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."