Anyone ever hit an animal?

[lunacycles]

Death by Orbit.

Say it isn't so!

[pumpkinpony]

Strong leaders hold their ground, and don't swerve. In a dog pack, the leader walks straight through the pack, and the other dogs jump out of the leader's way. Even if the 'follower' dogs were asleep. They wake and scatter. So followers go around and swerve. If you swerve, the dog perceives you as weak. This means the dog is more likely to chase you, the weaker animal.

Interesting. I was out in the country on my mountain bike. A pack of four dogs came up to run along side, bark and growl at me. One decided to 'zag' right in front of me. I have no idea how I didn't crash but I sent him rolling. Maybe he was the leader because he ran off yelping and the others followed. (then the owner came out and started yelling at me, not the dogs - I just kept riding)

[buffybike]

I've run over a squirrel before. It ran off, so it must not have been too bad. Another rider told me to make a loud PSSTTTT!!!! noise (like a snake but in a short burst like a squirt of water) at squirrels who look like they may run in front of you. I do it now and it works every time.

I'll have to try the dog advice next time I get chased. There's a scrappy little mutt that runs after me on one of my routes. I usually yell, 'Go home!"...to no avail. Eventually he gets tired and stops chasing.

[Crankin]

About 8 years ago, DH hit a squirrel going about 40 mph downhill. The squirrel broke half of his fork off. It was amazing he didn't crash and a fellow cyclist noticed the incident from his car and brought my DH and his bike back to the office (it was a lunch time ride).
It took quite a lot of hard work to get the fur and blood off of his bike.

[Thorn]

...snip all the good background information...

Translation. Hold the paceline and yell sharply in short bursts like a big dog warning another to stay away. Act like the leader. But, ignore the dog unless they get interested/excited or are blocking your path. Avoid actually making eye-contact with the dog in any case.

Thanks....probably some of the most logically spelled out advice I've read. Wish I had had this before my Kentucky adventure -- I swear I was there just to exercise the local dogs.

[Aggie_Ama]

I have only hit a few bugs and swallowed a couple (eewwwww). One of the local women I know hit a cotton tail bunny, she said she didn't know if it was injured. I have had a few bunnies run in front of me but none have been hit. I did run over one snake, he slithered off and I was a mess because I hate snakes but don't want to hurt one!

We have several private ranches that are working cattle ranches, talk about easily startled animals. And one day we had to walk across a pasture because some large longhorn cattle were resting comfortably in the trail. I am not going to tell an animal that big he does not have the right of way.

DH and I call the squirrels kamikaze squirrels. They are so unpredictable and we know a few people who have wrecked because of them. Yesterday I had 6 run across me mountain biking. When you are riding alone it makes you feel like they are out to get you! It is interesting to know they have a purpose for being that way.

[Bike Chick]

I wish I could have seen that one! Talk about 9 lives. A friend of mine had a similar experience with a groundhog!

A groundhog! Oh my goodness!!!

BTW, the PSSST noise is what DH did to the cat crouching in the weeds thinking it would dart the other way and it ran straight into his front wheel. It only works if they run the OTHER direction

Muirenn, good luck with those gators! Wow!

[PamNY]

Oh geez, I would worry about gators. I hope they schedule their activities when you aren't around.

[Eden]

My husband and I have a theory that squirrels will run for the nearest tree - even if that takes them directly across your path..... check it out next time you are riding or driving and a squirrel runs 1/2 way out, then turns around and darts in front of you yet again. He's probably running for the closest tree.

Not to scare anyone, but I have seen pictures of forks broken clean off from squirrel strike. Usually it doesn't end prettily for the person or the squirrel, but it is rare.

[Lifesgreat]

A new friend of mine collided with a deer while riding with her club in the SF Bay Area a month ago. Severely injured, but her spinal cord is bruised, not severed. She is moving her arms and legs! A long recovery ahead, she is making great progress and I am looking forward to riding with her again in the future.

[Charlotte Berry]

I totaled the car when I hit deer family on the highway. Should of sued the maker of the deer horns, didn't work at all. I ran over a rattlesnake on my MB. I almost hit deer on the MB, hit coyote with the car. Just in the paper two days ago about 2 miles away, someone killed a mountain lion with their car when it ran out in front during the daytime, unusual. I killed dogs, cats, squirrels, possium, raccoons, skunks, foxes, squirrels, coyotes, birds, snakes, and perhaps something else which I can't recall at the moment with my car, actually cars over the years, not including a bear, but it's happened here before. There have been wrecks here with cows and even horses but it's rare. Biggest theat to take away you nice little car, deer!! Happens ALL the time!

[Zen]

Every time I read this thread title I think "well, I beat my dogs. Does that count?"
Sorry. It was in me and had to come out.