Wildlife on the commute...

[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."

[Tuckervill]

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

Karen

[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!!