Animal Encounters

[Snoopy]

Why would you make fun of someone who wont ride because of deer?  I won't ride at night because of deer.  I lost a good friend because of a deer almost a year ago.  Does that mean I should be made fun of?

[Eville]

Because being so afraid of something that has such a minuscule chance of actually happening is silly; especially when you have so much control over the outcome. 

Sorry for your loss.

[Bumblebee]

Because being so afraid of something that has such a minuscule chance of actually happening is silly; especially when you have so much control over the outcome.

200 giant forest rats all over the place together in fields next to a road are easy to deal with by staying slow, covering the brakes and making sure they see you before you're on top of them. Unless you careen into the middle of them, they're quite predictable.
It's the empty fields and roads and no sign of them where they'll get you. If you're at anything over 20mph, you're totally dependent on them not jumping out in front of you. By the time you see them, it's too late. There's not a lot you can do about it at that point.

Come west and ride in the mountains in late August and September sometime when they're migrating. Great loads of entertainment shortly after sunset and at night. In some areas, the probability of getting taken down by one is pretty high. A friend lives in an area that I slow to 15mph and cover the brakes for the last 5 miles of the ride when it's not full day. They're all through the woods and unpredictable until I get to the big field where the road splits. It's skeery. Then there's the elk on the side of the roads...

[Snoopy]

Because being so afraid of something that has such a minuscule chance of actually happening is silly; especially when you have so much control over the outcome. 

Sorry for your loss.

On any night coming home for me I see anywhere from 3-20 deer.  How is it silly that I would rather be safe then to risk my life.  I have not hit a deer yet in my car, because i have breaks and can swerve a hell of a lot easier on 4 wheels and be safe, rather then dump the bike, hurt me or the bike, or try anything like this on 2.  I know many people who have hit them with there car or truck. Totaled cars and trucks before, gone thru windows, hurt people severly in the car, so I guess me being safe is silly. OK that works for me.  I welcome you to come drive in my neighborhood or area for a few weeks and see how you feel after.  Untill then, im going to be silly.

[Eville]

Sorry if I offended anybody; it was meant to be taken in jest.

[skippyf15]

I had a woodchuck attack me when I was riding my bike. I was riding on a wooded side ride when I noticed this animal standing in the road. I slowed to avoid hitting him. When I got closer to him I slowed almost to an idle. When I started going by him he jumped at my foot. I swear his teeth were huge. I'm not sure what made him mad but he sure was pi$$ed about something. I didn't try to kick at him. So beware of woodchucks.

[Custom82Hawk]

I had a woodchuck attack me when I was riding my bike. I was riding on a wooded side ride when I noticed this animal standing in the road. I slowed to avoid hitting him. When I got closer to him I slowed almost to an idle. When I started going by him he jumped at my foot. I swear his teeth were huge. I'm not sure what made him mad but he sure was pi$$ed about something. I didn't try to kick at him. So beware of woodchucks.

how much boot could a woodchuck bite if a woodchuck could bite boot?  ok, not quite the same.....

[Adam Roby]

My 3 from last year:

Was riding 2nd in line (back right) on a country road in the evening.  There was something dead in the street (racoon or big ground hog) but my buddy in front of me did't see it until it was too late.  He rode over top of it but it's insides flew out and hit me and my bike on the side.  It was quite a disgusting mess.

Was on my way states side and right before hitting the border a really tall coyotee jumped out of the woods and crossed right between my buddy in front and myself in back.  Again he had no time to react and I slammed on my brakes to avoid hitting the beautiful animal, but I was partially shell shocked, first time seeing one of those.

Last summer, one of our last ride we were basically going off-roading (gravel roads that go hundreds of kilometers north).  He has a Kawasaki LTD 1100 and I have the NH 750.  On dirt or rocky roads we keep more distance between us because of the dust.  He was maybe 1/4 km in front of me when he came to a stop on the side of the road and was signaling me to stop.  I pulled over, turned off the engine,  then shrugged. He just pointed to the bush.  I looked, but saw nothing until I removed my blackened sun glasses and saw 4-5 little bambies on the side, too scared to cross the path.  The mom had jumped out in front of my friend (nearing hit her) and the babies were holding back tring to hide.  I was no more than 20 feet away.  Stayed for a few minutes then realized they were too scared to cross, so I started my bike and slowly moved forward, as soon as I was ahead of them they bolted across the street.  I did get a few snaps of them before I took off though but the camera I had (around my neck) was a small 1 MP webcam I use just for fun.

[muttstang]

Nothing on the bike other then big junebugs so far but in cages is another story.  I had managed to avoid hitting any deer until last year and I hit 2. 

The first one I was driving with my wife riding shotgun and son in the car seat in back.  I was talking with my wife and caught sight of the deer out of the corner of my eye just as she made contact with the driver side headlight.  My wife screamed (and she rarely does so) and the deer died.  Left a bit of fecal matter on the bumper and did a couple grand worth of damage.

2nd one was on some back roads in Virginia.  I think I saw upwards of 100 deer in a couple of hours.  Now these roads would be a hoot on a bike in the day, it was just 1 curve after another.  But I came around a corner in the ford focus that I was renting and saw bambi along the side of the road.  I hit the horn and she decided to run into the road.  I had managed to scrub a good bit of speed and clocked her with the right side of the bumper.  No damage to the car but I'd imagine bambi had a big headache.

I did once manage to splatter a sparrow with the mustang going upwards of 100 mph.  (didn't hit that speed often)

Also had a deer run out in front of me while driving the mustang at night once.  I hit the horn and it did the Hondo spastic Ice dance.  I had checked the left lane previously and knew it was clear so I swerved slightly and gave it some brake.  Good thing the mustang handled well and I missed bambi.  but my heart was thumping the rest of the way home

[LOKi]

Got a sparrow last weekend. As we approached a flock came swooping from left to right. My roommate in front ducked behind the windscreen and managed not to hit any. When I got to the same spot and another flock shot out for the left. I too ducked behind the windscreen but the little bugger went low. SMACK right in the knee. Good thing for riding paints. That might of hurt at 80mph without knee pads.

[Adam Roby]

Not sure what kind of bird but a small yellow one smacked into my buddy's leg just below the knee, he had to pull over due to the pain and developed quite the lump as a result.

[LOKi]

NOT TWEETY!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tbante]

I was riding on a country road doing about 40 and was wearing a full face helmet with sunglasses on with  the faceshield up. Something up ahead didnt look quite right........it was like a fog or smoke but it was centered on the road. Then all of a sudden I realized that I was hitting a swarm of bees. Plastered the windshield but some made it by and came into my helmet lodging between my cheeks and the padding. I had an overwhelming urge to overreact cuz I could feel one or two of them buzzing their wings on my cheeks. I was able to pull over.............I cant believe I was not stung. They were on my shirt, in my shirt sleeve, in my helmet and maybe worst of all a few went up my shorts (I know you dont have to say it, not a good idea).
When I quickly pulled my helmet off about 4 fell out.
Very lucky. 

[ariwhiteboy]

There's a dog in my neighborhood that chases everything...I hit her one day by accident going about 25.  She lived but will not chase motorcycles anymore 

Disclaimer : I love dogs and hate that I hit her, but at the same time I don't want my dog to get hit, so he stays inside the house or backyard.

[Snoopy]

I was riding on a country road doing about 40 and was wearing a full face helmet with sunglasses on with  the faceshield up. Something up ahead didnt look quite right........it was like a fog or smoke but it was centered on the road. Then all of a sudden I realized that I was hitting a swarm of bees. Plastered the windshield but some made it by and came into my helmet lodging between my cheeks and the padding. I had an overwhelming urge to overreact cuz I could feel one or two of them buzzing their wings on my cheeks. I was able to pull over.............I cant believe I was not stung. They were on my shirt, in my shirt sleeve, in my helmet and maybe worst of all a few went up my shorts (I know you dont have to say it, not a good idea).
When I quickly pulled my helmet off about 4 fell out.
Very lucky. 

We were in wisconsin just under a year ago riding with some friends.  I had a yellow jacket smack me in the cheak...thinking the impact killed it i started to open my modular to let it drop out and the bastard stung me inthe lower left chin and OMG it was like SOB, i managed to get him out and continued on with the ride...but ill be damned it was distracting.  I kept calm tho...the wind in my face made the pain much worse but after we stopped the pain was gone and had minimal swelling.

[Eville]

Almost took out a pair of wild children yesterday.  I know cagers don't see me a lot, but these two girls ran right out in front of me.  They were looking right through me at the rest of the traffic.  I swerved hard to miss them and that finally got their attention and made them scream as i was driving past them. 

[happycommuter]

Got a sparrow last weekend...SMACK right in the knee. Good thing for riding paints. That might of hurt at 80mph without knee pads.

Yeah, so did the bird leave any, uh, stains?  I ask because I had my head turned for a lane check at highway speed when the side of my neck took a hit that felt like a baseball.  Area started feeling warm, and I was worried.  There was no blood or feathers or any trace on the helmet or collar.  Just a minor swollen scratch on my neck.  Which I'm assuming to be from a beak.