ksryder

That's crazy! Seems awfully irresponsible to sell them motorcycles in the first place.

smullen

But they can taste really good...

Backstraps wrapped in bacon,
roast/pulled,
or in Chilli

SkyWave

They may be small but they can be deadly.
|Cruising @ 35 km/h when a loud noise in my front wheel, significant shimmy and jolt to my system as I tried to comprehend what happened.
Carefully slowed and stopped. Looked back to see a small black furry critter. I realized that little flash before the impact was a squirrel. There was no ito reach as the brush came close to road's edge.
Fortunately for me, the critter did not penetrate spokes to cause an immediate complete stop to flip me over the bars, as the squirrel bounced off.
A slight adjustment to the front wheel and I was off riding again.
Again fortunate as I was recovering from a March crash ( broken leg with partial hip replacement and also a dislocated shoulder).

Geekage

I feel the same way about people.

Between bubonic plague and malaria, I think fleas or mosquitoes were/are more dangerous, depending on whether you count historically or currently.

General Geoff

Now that's a feat. I've had one motorcycle deer strike and I went down because I locked the front brake in a panic (was only 19 at the time, and had my endorsement for just a few months). These days I know better but, it's still a scary thought.

Phil_gretz

It was in New Jersey...

Caliper

They breed quickly to compensate for predators that mankind has killed off, plus other people feed the deer to help them breed more.

The solution is to restore the balance by either reintroducing bears/wolves/large cats that should live where you are or to pick up a weapon of some sort and participate in a hunting season.


Myself, I have fortunately not hit or been hit by a deer yet, but have seen many run across the road in front of me. Honestly, the closest near-miss I've had was with a wild turkey that was determined to cross the road first. Glad to have missed all of the above.

Arthur Peabody

When I wrote animal I meant not insects, bacteria, fungi, viruses, which are far more dangerous. The point I meant to make is that if we allow wolves and cougars back, they may kill an occasional human but save more human lives by cutting down on deer. Wolf and cougar attacks make national news; deer collisions hardly make the local news. That shows that we care about something more than life.

DomaneS5

Deer are bad around here for hanging out on roads while I'm riding. I've had several close calls over the past few years. They always seem to pop up when I'm riding downhill going 25+ mph.

indyfabz

In Montana, if you kill a deer, antelope, elk or moose with your car you may legally take it home for personal consumption. You may not dress it by the side of the road. You have to take the whole thing. Within 24 hrs. you have to go on line and get a retroactive permit so the state can keep track of kills. From what I have read, it's quite popular. I have done a good deal of touring in the state. In many areas there are lots of deer. I mean lots. Even in small towns they will wander around and cross roads with no fear a humans or vehicles.

Korina

Problem is, we're terrible predators. We don't go for the old, sick, and weak, thus strengthening the herd; we go for the young and strong.

Geekage

Snakes then. 50,000 deaths annually, vs. 200 for deer.

But yeah, more predators is fine. ISTR that wolf populations coming back is overall good for forests/ecosystems because they keep deer and small animals from overgrazing and destroying some habitats that would have led to erosion, flooding, etc.

Re: attacks on humans, we don't want these predators to find out how tasty and easy prey we humans are. The line I heard from an Alaskan ranger second/third/nth hand was, "Don't do anything to get killed by a bear. I don't care about you, but I'd really hate to have to go kill that bear." Same goes for wolves, cougars, etc. The problem is, as with deer, crowding them and making them have to to deal with humans being everywhere, conflict is going to occur. Or roadkill.

Milton Keynes

I think someone's posted a picture on the forums before of a dead squirrel caught in the spokes of a front bicycle wheel. Little bugger apparently thought he could run right through the wheel and didn't see the spokes.

2manybikes

On a group ride on Block Island, a friend got hit by a deer while he was going fast. He broke a rib and had some road rash.

MNebiker

Local trails in my city run in wooded areas, ravines, wetlands, around lakes, etc. so deer are pretty common - along with various other small critters. In the city the deer seem to know they are safe and some seem almost tame. I've followed does with fawns just ambling along the trail until they get to where they want to go and then just melt back into the woods. Closest call I had was when a buck jumped out of the brush and across the trail in front of me. He went over shoulder high - 6 or 8 feet more and he would have cleaned me right off the bike.

Best creature encounter was a grey owl. He swooped down and flew alongside for about 20 yards and then flew back up into the trees. Maybe I looked like a big fat field mouse.

phtomita

Yesterday going home around 7:30 PM, I was entering Marymoor Park from the trail parallel to West Lake Sammamish Pkwy.
I have my headlight on handlebar, so can't see much around when gets darker.
Turning the 90 degree left turn on trail, I see something standing there on my left ... it was a small deer. Great that it stayed there

Arthur Peabody

In the US

Good point, but I don't think it's likely.

rumrunn6

https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting...rel-hater.html

post #2

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...t-wheel-2.html

post #2 9

noimagination

I've wondered whether a buck in rut would interpret the sound of a snot rocket as a challenge. Admittedly, a snot rocket lacks the resonance of a buck's snort, but still...

(Ruminations during slow climbs at o'dark thirty through deer-infested woods.)

Ald1 

During rutting season (which is now) male deers can get very aggressive. Wasn't there a video of a cyclist actually getting charged and knocked off the bike?

SoreFeet

You are very lucky...slow down and take it easy...Bike paths are great like that...no traffic go at a good clip, then deer, skunks, and stupid humans they just appear out of nowhere. Did you have a good light, or just waiting for more day light? Crazy to think you didn't eat the pavement.

joelcool

Yes, I'm very lucky. No, I won't slow down and take it easy. I am fully aware of the risks associated with riding a bicycle at the pace I ride, and have made the decision that for me, it's worth it. I ride my bike because I enjoy it, and I enjoy riding as fast as my legs will propel me - it's exercise after all.

I use a light when I would use the headlights on my car, and it was on that morning. The headlight helped me brake earlier than I would have without the headlight and may have made the deer aware of my presence sooner as well, so I'd say it made a difference in the outcome.... but of course we'll never know.

Pavement doesn't taste good.

Caliper

You forget that wild predators also get the young because they are smaller and slower. They'll also get those young, strong prey animals if they make a mistake. But human wildlife management is more complex than hunting trophies as you imply... Doe seasons help a lot with population control (you can generally count on each doe being pregnant regardless of how many bucks there are). Various other restrictions stop hunting the younger in the group. While hunters will show off a kill with a large rack, most I know are more concerned about putting meat in the freezer. Either way, it beats no predators unless you just want overpopulation.

Korina

Fair enough; I really don't know anything about hunting. Good to know.