I live in a community that's in the foothills of a mtn range out here called the Sierra Estrellas. While we have about 2500-3000 rooftops out here there are still alot of open spaces and hiking trails. Since we've had no rain in 130+ days the wildlife is starting to come out looking for water. We have a resident mtn lion who everyone calls "elvis" because he *leaves the building* so to speak as quickly as he comes. Well there have been alot of Elvis sightings lately, as well as Javelina- something of a cross between a pig and a rodant- coyotes and apparently a bob cat. One evening my son and I were videotaping down by our lake and a coyote came out from behind a palm tree. It kind of freaked us out, but was cool at the same time He was in a very populated area. My guess is either he was looking for a duck for dinner or wanted water.
I think my worst wildlife encounter was on my roadbike last fall. I was coming down the road near the school and a lady in a car going to opposite direction stopped me and warned that there was a HUGE rattlesnake in the street ahead. Well man was she right! The things was at least 4 feet long! It took up the entire center turn lane! The real scary part was in was slithering into the school yard. I stopped and warned them in the office, but they didn't seem surprised. The school apparently has many wildlife encounters. There is a rugged mountain across from the school and a desert wash behind it. So basically wildlife habitat all around. In fact when we first moved here the "class pet" in my sons class was a tarantula that they caught outside the classroom!
Snakes.... Just another reason why I don't mtn bike here in the spring or fall!